Celebration & Awards
Throughout the year volunteers have the chance to be recognised for the work they do by England Rugby and their sponsors, Hampshire Rugby and local clubs.
Conker Gin Spirit of Rugby
Hampshire RFU is proud to announce the launch of The Conker Spirit of Rugby Awards, an exciting new initiative to recognise the invaluable contributions of volunteers across our rugby community, supported by local gin producer, Conker Distillery.
This monthly award will spotlight the dedication and passion that keep our clubs thriving.
Starting November 1st, clubs can nominate volunteers in two categories:
Unsung Hero: For individuals who go above and beyond to create positive experiences and secure their club’s future.
Challenging Spirit: For those who champion inclusivity, innovation, and make rugby accessible to all through inspiring community engagement
Nominations are open to those over 18, and submissions must be made by the 25th of each month.
Winners, selected by a panel, in both categories will receive a bottle of Conker Gin as a thank you and recognition for their efforts and support in delivering and growing rugby in Hampshire.
RFU Switch Volunteers of the Year Award
The Volunteer of the Year Awards 2026, supported by Switch Car Rental celebrate volunteers across rugby for their achievements over the past 12 months.
Nominations for the 2026 awards will open on Monday 5th January.
This year there are three categories to nominate in, so whether you want to put forward an individual or a group of volunteers, don’t forget to get your nominations in and say thanks to those who make rugby happen.
- Unsung Hero
- Game for All
- Keeping players in the Game
Last year we received 100 nominations, and the nominated volunteers attended a dinner ceremony at a Hampshire venue where they received recognition in the form of a certificate and a small gift to thank them for their contribution.
To find out more about the awards click here, or to nominate, click here.
For further details, please contact: Hannah Avoth (Director of People)
Hampshire RFU Awards
The County further recognise club volunteers with awards given out at the County AGM. The categories include:
- Administrator of the Year, which is awarded to the club administrator who in the opinion of the panel has done the most to help the game in the season.
- Volunteer of the Year goes to the individual who has made a real difference either on or off the pitch at their club
- Young Volunteer of the Year goes to the individual under the age of 18, who has made a real difference either on or off the pitch at their club.
RFU President Lifetime Achievement Award
- This award is selected by the Hampshire Executive Committee and as the title suggests goes to a person who has given outstanding service over a long period of time. The recipient gets VIP treatment at an England match at Twickenham and is presented with their award at the post-match dinner.
Nominations for these awards will be here in 2025
