Annan collect top award at Scottish Rugby club celebration

Annan collect top award at Scottish Rugby club celebration

Another successful season of domestic club rugby was celebrated at BT Murrayfield on Friday evening, with the annual Scottish Rugby Club Awards Dinner saluting the phenomenal contribution of the club game in Scotland.Annan were awarded the prestigious BT Club of the Season award after winning the BT West Division 2 this season as well as significantly boosting both their youth and ladies’ sections of the club. BT Women’s Club of the Season went to Garioch, who gained promotion into the BT Women’s League Division 1 after a successful playing season, with the team also backing charities and helping out their local community when floods disrupted homes earlier this year.Phil Smith of Heriot’s was awarded Coach of the Year following his side’s BT Premiership and BT Cup double victory, adding to the club’s BT Charity Shield title at the start of the season. The Scotland Club XV coach also made history as the first to lead the squad to an unbeaten season and back-to-back victories over England Counties and Ireland Club XV.The BT Premiership Player of the Season went to Ayr’s Peter McCallum off the back of a successful season for the back-row. The Scotland Club XV international was a crucial part of Ayr’s table-topping performances, which lead them to the BT Premiership final to meet Heriot’s.Scotland Women internationalist, Emma Wassell, took home the award for BT Women’s Premier League Player of the Season following her outstanding contribution to Wandies’ double delight when lifting both the BT Women’s Premier League and Sarah Beaney Cup trophies.There were a further eight “Player of the Season” awards which recognised the performances of men and women from across the BT Leagues in their club colours and three awards for the top performing Scottish Rugby Club Development Officers, who seek to develop young people through rugby.The Caledonia Best Spirit of Rugby award was picked up by Mike Dawson from Murrayfield Wanderers, a former match-day announcer for Scottish Rugby who worked alongside Bill McLaren and who was also part of the group of pioneers who first developed mini rugby in Scotland.Youth Coach of the Season was collected by Gary Coupland from Annan for his continued development of youth rugby at the club, with the UK Children’s Coach of the Year no stranger to picking up silverware.Peter Hill from Duns was awarded BT Volunteer of the Season for his involvement with the club from their inaugural season of 1959/60, whether playing for the 1st XV or reshaping the clubhouse on two occasions since the 1960s.Referee of the Season went to Duncan McClement after performing at the top tier of domestic rugby, as well as on the international stage. A Commander, who is Head of Safety Assurance for the HM Naval Base in Clyde, McClement refereed the International Defence Rugby Competition between the British Army and the Fiji Military Forces this season.Steven Rutledge from Highland collected the Brigadier Frank Coutts Memorial (BT) Try of the Season following his score against Dunfermline in the BT Caledonia League Division 1 back in October.Scottish Rugby President, Ed Crozier, said: “The Scottish Rugby Awards Dinner is a fantastic celebration of club rugby and has showcased the great work which goes on across the country to ensure the game of rugby is in good health.’Whether you are a player, coach, volunteer or a committee member, all have been recognised for their efforts and commitment to every aspect of the game.”Scottish Rugby’s Head of Club Services, Nick Rennie, said: “The standard of club rugby across all aspects of the game this season has been really high and is reflected in this year’s list of winners.From start to finish, it has been an exciting year of club rugby in Scotland and we wish all of our winners the very best for the season ahead.” 2015/16 Scottish Rugby Club Awards winnersBT Club of the Season – AnnanBT Women’s Club of the Season – GariochCoach of the Season – Phil Smith (Heriot’s)Youth Coach of the Season – Gary Coupland (Annan)Referee of the Season – Duncan McClementCaledonia Best Spirit of Rugby – Mike Dawson (Murrayfield Wanderers)BT Volunteer of the Season – Peter Hill (Duns)Brigadier Frank Coutts Memorial (BT) Try of the Season – Steven Rutledge (Highland)BT Premiership Player of the Season – Peter McCallum (Ayr)BT National League Division 1 Player of the Season – Ben Johnston (Marr)BT National League Division 2 Player of the Season – Ross Gillies (Cartha Queen’s Park)BT National League Division 3 Player of the Season – Tony Herron (GHK)BT Caledonia Regional Player of the Season – Andrew Findlater (Highland)BT East Regional Player of the Season – Jamie Simpson (Earlston)BT West Regional Player of the Season – Corrie Louw (Oban Lorne)BT Women’s Premier League Player of the Season – Emma Wassell (Murrayfield Wanderers)BT Women’s National League Division 1 Player of the Season – Audrey Barr (Oban Lorne)BT Women’s National League Division 2 Player of the Season – Nicola Howat (Howe Harlequins)Scottish Rugby Club Development Officers of the Year Awards – Brendan McGroarty (Greenock Wanderers), Colin Sturgeon (Glasgow Life), Graeme Simpson (Falkirk) 

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