East London Rugby Football Club celebrated the efforts of players, volunteers, supporters and sponsors, with a gala awards presentation night and dinner to mark the end of the 2022/23 season.

Essex County RFU President Nick Bracken OBE, also East London RFC President, handed out the trophies at the clubhouse in Memorial Park, West Ham.

Players honoured in the 2022/23 season awards were:

• 1st XV Player of the Season – George Nicholson
• Vixens’ ladies Player of the Season – Katie Walsh
• 2nd XV Player of the Season – Lee Carson
• 3rd XV Player of the Season – Rich Keough
• 1st XV Most Improved Player – Hamish Veitch
• Vixens’ ladies Most Improved Player – Whitney Bennet
• 2nd XV Most Improved Player – Henry Waugh
• 3rd XV Most Improved Player – Luis Herrera
• 1st XV Best Newcomer – Rob Vassie
• Vixens’ ladies Best Newcomer – Lauren Hatch
• 2nd XV Best Newcomer – Mark Strain
• 3rd XV Best Newcomer – Arpad Benucci
• Young Player of the Season – Freya Challis
• Club Person of the Season – Chris Brown
• Chair’s Award – Daniel Bracken
• Special Recognition (The Birdy Awards) – Alix Fitzgerald and Thomas Rochette

The Special Recognition awards are given to those who have gone above and beyond either on or off the pitch. They are known as The Birdy Awards in honour of former Vice-Chair and lub treasurer Deborah Bird who died in 2022.

Also awarded for the first time this season were silver and gold ceremonial honours caps to past and present players who have achieved the milestone of either 50 or 100 appearances for the men’s first team or Vixens ladies or for making outstanding contributions to the club. The first recipients were: Nick Bracken; Daniel Bracken; Frank Murphy; Barrie Challingsworth; George Collins; Simon Crick; Aoife Farrell; Kat Salthouse; Lewis Bourke; Chris Brown; Jeremy Carson; James Adamson; Nicki Barlex; Rachael McMeekin; and Katie Gemal.

East London RFC Chair Simon Crick said: “I congratulate all the award winners. I thank all players, volunteers, supporters, and sponsors for their work, commitment and generosity throughout the season.

“The club was delighted to be able to award the first batch of honours caps. We have many past and present players who qualify for and deserve caps and we will be presenting them in the months ahead at matches and at club functions.”