Led by our Chairman, Cdr Sean Heaton, ten members from across the Association attended the luncheon to receive the award and reflect on our incredible 2022 season bearing in mind we had not been able to play a competitive match for 20 months due to covid. During his interview with by Jon Knighton head coach Darren Bamford made a special mention to our vice-captain Sean Houghton who is currently recovering from injury. It was Houghton’s try in the dying minutes of the IS game against the Army which gave Darren Bamford the conversion to win the match and the IS Series for RN

Chairman of UKAF Sports Board Air Cdre Richard Fogden RAF welcomed all to the Sports Awards Ceremony and introduced the Guest Of Honour Mr Simon Bucks BFBS CEO who presented the awards throughout the afternoon.

The event was supported by British Forces Broadcasting Service with our friend Sports Editor Jon Knighton as Master Of Ceremonies for the event.

The footage of the event can be found at the following link with the Team Of The Year being the last award to be presented
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9eAhbsn1yZI

Congratulations also to Mne Taylor Lawrence who won the Sportsman Of The Year for his amazing achievements in Bobsleigh. The other RN nominees were Surg Lt Rachel Aldridge RN (Athletics and Indoor Rowing) and Lt Cdr Andrew Holley RN (Motorsport)
Besides being recognition of RNRL record breaking 25th Anniversary Season it was great to see our sport being given such exposure at the top level of AF Sport. Previously there have only been three other RL Award winners in the 35-year history of the awards. In 2005 Damian Clayton was awarded Official of the year for his work with RAF RL and in 2021 The Army Womens Rugby League took the Team Award. The 2008 Team Of The Year award went to the CS RL team who travelled to Australia to win the inaugural AF RL World Cup. Tour manager Clive Mason set the programme for the tour and our very own Wayne Okell coached the squad to victory over the Aussies at the Sydney Cricket Ground. To date this is the only World Cup success for UKAF RL