After last year’s absence through illness it was great to see Dave Garner, our Director of Rugby, return as MC for the evening, once again managing to keep the evening moving with the awards being presented between the courses of a fantastic meal prepared by the HMS Excellent staff.

The evening was very well attended as usual with well over a 100 guests including representatives from our valued sponsors including ESS and our new kit suppliers x-blades as well as family members who had made the trip down to Portsmouth.

The evening was also to formally say goodbye and thank two of the Associations top performers over the years in the men’s game, Kev Botwood and Lewis Taylor. Both have left their mark not only on RN Rugby League but also on Armed Forces Rugby League being part of Wayne Okell’s successful World Cup winning side of 2008. Kev playing a part in all 5 of RNRL Inter Services wins since the first one in 2004. Lewis ran the pack for many years and was a true professional in all he did earning the inaugural Club Captains role in 2014.

We also said goodbye to Wrenegade Stacey Hargreave who leaves the service soon with our thanks for all her efforts in what has been a testing few years for the Women’s game. Stacey had a great IS series last year and was duly awarded the Wrenegade’s Coaches award for the season presented by Ladies team Manager Helen Stevenson.

Stacey’s nomination was made by Steven ‘Chopper’ Smallbone who, due to illness, could not be at the event. Sadly it is unlikely Chopper will be able to be involved next season so to mark his remarkable record of input into RNRL since 1998 a Lifetime Achievement award was accepted in his absence by Helen Stevenson. For those who are maybe only familiar with his immense contribution to RN Women’s Rugby League, Chopper was involved right from the start and at various times was a player himself, a fully qualified Referee, assistant Coach to the Academy, statman to the senior squad and even acted as MC at our home matches. All involved in the Association wish Chopper a speedy recovery.

Whist we all wish Chopper the very best we also welcomed to the fold Matthew ‘Jim’ Bowen who has taken over the role of Wrenegade’s Coach. Jim takes over with the Women’s game in a stronger place than of late and we wish him god luck for the new season.

RNRL Chairman Capt Paul Carroll presented his award to former RNRL Secretary Lt Cdr Chris Hutchinson who has stepped aside due to a short notice sea going appointment. Hopefully this will be a temporary side step and in the meantime Lt Dave Potts has come off the bench and assumed the role of Secretary.

As always at the Players awards the blue ribbon award is Man Of Steel and for the 2017 season following a fantastic first full year with RNRL the award went to Jamie Birdsall. His year started with a wonderful try in last year’s Challenge Cup followed by selection for the UKAF Word Cup squad for the summer’s tournament in Australia. On return to ‘domestic’ RL Jamie took the Man of the Match award in the fixture against the RAF and was nominated as the RN man of the match against the Army.

Amongst the awards there were two joint awards, at senior level Nathan Lee and Jamie Birdsall were joint winners of the Players Player of the year awards whilst Suzie Badger and Megan Meyer were awarded the same award for the Wrenegade’s.
At Academy level Reece Griffiths-Jones took both the Coaches and Players Player award recognising a great season for the winger.

The full list of awards is as follows
Man Of Steel – Jamie Birdsall
Chairman’s Award Lt Cdr Chris Hutchinson
Club Captains Award Steve Penberthy
Lifetime Achievement Award – Steve Smallbone
Wayne Okell Award – Kev Botwood
Wata Robanakadavu Award – Chris Hart
Kenny Taylor Award -Danny Johnson

Coaches Awards
Seniors - Luke Cooper
Wrenegade’s – Stacey Hargreave
Academy – Reece Griffiths-Jones

Players Player Award
Seniors – Joint Nathan Lee & Jamie Birdsall
Wrenegade’s – Suzie Badger & Megan Meyer
Academy - Reece Griffiths-Jones

A special vote of thanks was given to Ayeshea Lockton who had organised the event putting in the hard yards persuading a mostly northern guest list to part with their money.

To round the evening off RNRL President Cdre Paul Marshall congratulated all the winners and the Assocaiation as a whole for the efforts in 2017. Cdre Marshall also announced an ambitious and exciting year ahaed for RNRL. Besides the domestic season plans are well underway to hold the third maritime tri-nations tournament in UK welcoming the New Zealand and Australian Naval Forces to the south coast in the autumn. The outline plan has been approved and this time round te trinations will feature a Womens competition running alongsid the Mens competition, another firts for Services RL.

Finally a personal thank you to the Association for my Lifetime Achievement award, a wonderful surprise especially for someone who has never worn the shirt! Whilst I leave the service on 11 February and with the support of the Chairman and Committee I hope to carry on as before so the days of Keith ‘Humpletweet’ are not over just yet!