On Friday 17th May the OURFC community gathered at St Hilda's College for the Annual Dinner and awards evening. Starting with the Team of the Year it was the Women's Panthers who got the evening up and running after a fine season led by Lucy Jackson, which saw them win 5 out of their 8 games this season, playing a fantastic brand of rugby.
Pumas player of the Year: Izzy Lundberg Honourable mentions: (Amelia Abbott, Estelle Onwuka, Lauren Forbes & Juliet Hill)
This player came into OURFC this year as a fresher, raring to go. She immediately made an impact on the club and has featured across all three of our teams this year. Despite her size, she is one of the fiercest players on the pitch and is fearless in her play, constantly looking for snipes, kicks and other options. It was brilliant seeing her dominate the Tabs in the Pumas varsity, culminating in her collecting her own chip ahead to score the only try of the game and ultimately winning the Pumas Varsity. She has a really bright future ahead of her and hopefully we can all see her fulfil her potential and put on the Dark Blue top in the coming years.
Whippets player of the Year: Kimathi Muiruiri Honourable mentions: (Will Powell, Sam Beverley, Jonty Scott-Brown & George Cooper)
Kimathi has been the mainstay for the Whippets over the past two seasons, despite not fulfilling some of his personal goals . He has gone about his business in a truly professional manner. He is an honest, hardworking and committed player. As a Captain and only wants the best for those around him and has been willing to go the extra mile to ensure success. He has set the standards for future Whippets Captains and we wish him all the very best for the future both on and off the field.
Panthers player of the Year: Thea Edwards Honourable mentions: (Yasmin Irving, Tori Kennedy, Polly Brown, Chloe Howgate, Sophie Goodman, Lucy Jackson, Milly Fewlas Jones, Imi Culhane)
Thea has been amazing this year, given it was her first year playing rugby her natural athletic ability meant she was always a threat with the ball in hand and a solid defender. She has been a stalwart in the Panthers, a name that everyone else looks for on the team sheet and someone that never fails to deliver an incredible line break or two. She was really unlucky at picking up an injury the week of varsity meaning she was able to play against the tabs, I am sure she would have given them hell and influenced the game massively. We will be sad to lose you at the end of this year but look forward to what you have to offer rugby in years to come.
Greyhounds player of the Year: Matt Wall Honourable mentions: (Luke Newland, Victor Angelov, Ben Scher, Ben Clarke, Murray Sanderson, Kuba Surga, Pat Meigh)
This season Matt Wall has provided great strength towards the dogs team. His work ethic, relentless physicality, and willingness to learn have combined fantastically this season leading to some dominant performances on the pitch. Not only has he got the best rig in the team and probably the club, his down to earth and earnest character make him a great bloke to be around. We look forward to seeing Matt put on that dark blue jersey next season!
Greatest Contribution Women’s section: Alex Wilkinson Honourable mentions: (Zed Nott, Michele Szegda, Sophie Shams, Clodagh Holmes, Mel Morley, Lucy Jackson, Grace Gibson, Tolu Duckworth, Zoe Guy)
Wilko work on and off the pitch has been integral to the success and running the club. From organising key events like scrumble in the jungle to varsity prep as well as stellar performances on the pitch for both OURFC and England U20s make her a worthy winner of this prize.
Greatest Contribution Men’s Section: Sam Reynolds Honourable mentions: (George Morgan, Nial Mccormack, Eben Terry, Tom Robertson, Vasco Faria, Luke Wyllie, James Wade)
Sam has is a true club man ensuring that all players of OURFC feel a sense of belonging towards the club. For the Blues he was integral in organising the December tour to the west coast of USA. On the pitch, he has been an ever present in the Blues with maverick performances each week. His support and passion for the whole club is infectious and he will be sorely missed by all at the club as he graduates from Oxford.
Women’s Coaches Player of the Year: Lauren Webb
This player has had one of the most standout OURFC careers probably in the history of the club and receiving this award in her final year feels a fitting way to reflect upon her impact.
Not only did she captain last year, but she has remained consistently committed and exemplary as a player across her 3 years. This player is an incredibly powerful and impressive athlete, with considerable knowledge of the game and a determination to win that not many others can challenge. I know she holds the respect of everybody at this club.
There is not much to say about you that everybody in this room has not already witnessed countless times. But what I can say, is that the shoes you have left will take quite an effort to fill.
Men’s Coaches Player of the Year: Zenden Rozenbroek
Someone who shows the work ethic required for Blues rugby, his performance by his own admittance in the previous season for the greyhounds was one that showed him how much work he had to do and how much he had to learn. he never looked at just doing what was required for a Blue, - high performance, body of on the line and giving his all constantly on and off the field was his minimum level. He is a humble lad and carries dissapointment as a motivation which as a coach you want/need, require in all players. A good Blue is someone who leaves a mark on his peers, who carries respect from his peers and who coaches can trust to give his all, Zenden has learnt to be this person/player which is also credit him buying into the environment
Women’s Blues Player of the Year: Lauren Webb Honourable mentions: (Olivia Brown, Emma Jones, Sophie Shams, Amber Wilkins, Caity Watson, Alex Wilkinson, Stella Farmer, Tolu Duckworth)
This player has had one of the most standout OURFC careers probably in the history of the club and receiving this award in her final year feels a fitting way to reflect upon her impact.
Not only did she captain last year, but she has remained consistently committed and exemplary as a player across her 3 years. This player is an incredibly powerful and impressive athlete, with considerable knowledge of the game and a determination to win that not many others can challenge. I know she holds the respect of everybody at this club.
There is not much to say about you that everybody in this room has not already witnessed countless times. But what I can say, is that the shoes you have left will take quite an effort to fill.
Men’s Blues Player of the Year: Harrison Scoble Honourable mentions: (Michael Fankah, Sam Reynolds, Seth Dockery, Jack Hamilton, Jack Glover, Luke Wyllie, Hector Skipworth)
Playing 80 minutes week in, week out is no mean feat, let alone at hooker. His work at set piece and in the tight is exemplary and as to be expected with the playing pedigree he holds before coming to Oxford. It is however as a team and club man that have seen him have a huge impact on the culture of the group. An eternal optimist his endless positivity reflects in the manner that he plays the game.
Finally, the evening was a fantastic chance to say thank you to Mr James Wade for his 13 years of service as Head Coach. In a tenure that saw him win 6 Varsity matches in a row and overall secure 8 out of 13 Dark Blue Varsity Cups. It is however the impact that he has had on the character traits of the individuals under his leadership that he will most fondly be remembered for.
Outgoing Men's Blues Head Coach, James Wade with seven OURFC Captains and his General Manager Tim Stevens (L-R Louis Jackson, Tom Osbourne, Luke Wyllie, Matt Janney, James Wade, Jack Glover, Ed David, Tim Stevens, John Henry Carter)
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