The WRU Diolch Awards are for Community Volunteers designed to celebrate and recognise Volunteers across our Community game and their achievements in the last twelve months and beyond.
Nominations are made for individuals or clubs who have gone above and beyond through their volunteering efforts in Welsh Community rugby with notable achievements in the last twelve months.
All information for each category (apart from Presidents Award) must be related to any volunteering activity undertaken in Welsh community rugby in the last year.
All nominations validly submitted to the WRU must clearly demonstrate why you believe that your nominee(s) should be recognised as part of the WRU Community Volunteer of the Year Awards. When submitting a nomination, you should take into account the criteria provided for each category and demonstrate where you feel that your nominee(s) meets the key criteria by providing clear examples as part of any nomination that you may submit.
No nominee should have received payment (other than expenses) for their work. The intention of these awards is to recognise volunteers that give up their time freely and for the love of rugby union and their community.
You may also want to nominate an individual in more than one category if they meet the criteria. Whilst this is possible, please note that you will need to submit a separate nomination form for each category where you wish to submit a nomination.
This award was for an outstanding volunteer aged 25 years or younger, working and supporting community clubs.
This award was for a young person who has invested time in their development as a volunteer and has made a significant positive impact within their community. They may have helped to remove barriers and reduce inequalities in sport and physical activity.
Each of the finalists has been a leader for rugby in their community and an inspiration and role model for all young people.
The finalists were: • Charlie Parry – Wrexham RFC • Dylan Case – Llanharan RFC
This wasn’t an east category and the judges simply could not decide between the two worthy finalists and therefore the Young Volunteer of the Year was jointly awarded!
Let’s take a look at their stories
Charlie Parry
Dylan Case
This award is for an outstanding Male Senior Volunteer Community Coach who has significantly contributed to the skills development of the people they coach.
The finalists have delivered regular quality coaching sessions, meeting the needs of all participants by embedding inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers to participation and reduce inequalities in rugby.
They have helped participants to develop their skills, build confidence, resilience and develop a positive attitude towards rugby. They have adopted a person-centered approach to coaching, taking time to understand their participants needs and goals and helping them to reach their potential.
They have been an inspiration and a positive role model and have invested time and energy in their own development and they hold a recognised WRU qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach.
The finalists are: • Gethin Williams – Pontarddulais RFC • Jason Craig – Colwyn Bay Stingrays • Edward Mark Davies – Briton Ferry RFC • Joe Horwood – Senghenydd Sirens
We have joint winners of this category. Let’s take a look at their stories
Mark Davies
Gethin Williams
This award is for an outstanding female Senior Volunteer Community Coach who has significantly contributed to the skills development of the people they coach.
The finalists have delivered regular quality coaching sessions, meeting the needs of all participants by embedding inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers to participation and reduce inequalities in rugby. They have helped participants to develop their skills, build confidence, resilience and develop a positive attitude towards rugby. They have adopted a person-centred approach to coaching, taking time to understand their participants needs and goals and helping them to reach their potential.
They have been an inspiration and a positive role model and have invested time and energy in their own development and they hold a recognised WRU qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach. The finalists are: • Kim Jones – Old Penarthians RFC Ladies • Kirsty Openshaw-Rowe – Porthcawl RFC Senior Women’s (SheGulls)
Let’s take a look at our winner
This award is for an outstanding female Volunteer Community Coach for mini, junior or youth teams who has significantly contributed to the skills development of the children they coach. The finalists have delivered regular quality coaching sessions, meeting the needs of all participants by embedding inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers to participation, provide rugby opportunities for all and reduce inequalities in the sport.
They have helped children to develop their skills, build confidence and resilience and develop a positive attitude towards rugby. They have adopted a person-centred approach to coaching, taking time to understand each child’s needs and goals to help them to reach their potential. Whilst doing all of the above, they have also been an inspiration and a positive role model. They have invested time and energy in their own development and hold a recognised WRU qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach.
The finalists are: • Amanda Anne Bayliss – Builth Wells RFC • Kayleigh Greening – Cambrian RFC • Lowri Blain – Gwylliaid Meirionydd
Let’s take a look at our winner
This award is for an outstanding male Volunteer Community Coach for mini, junior or youth teams who has significantly contributed to the skills development of the children they coach. The finalists have delivered regular quality coaching sessions, meeting the needs of all participants by embedding inclusive practices into their sessions, helping to remove barriers to participation, provide rugby opportunities for all and reduce inequalities in the sport.
They have helped children to develop their skills, build confidence and resilience and develop a positive attitude towards rugby. They have adopted a person-centred approach to coaching, taking time to understand each child’s needs and goals to help them to reach their potential. Whilst doing all of the above, they have also been an inspiration and a positive role model. They have invested time and energy in their own development and hold a recognised WRU qualification appropriate to the level at which they coach.
The finalists are: • Andrew Maunder – Old Illtydian RFC • Gavin O’Shea – Trimsaran RFC • Patrick James – Newport Saracens RFC • Jason Cook – Tylorstown RFC • Chris McGaughey – Treorchy RFC • Gareth Parry – Clwb Rygbi Llangefni / Monstars Hub
We have joint winners
Let’s take a look at their stories
Dysgu WRU is a new online learning platform created by the Places Team and it launched last August in Old Penarthians Rugby Club with many VIP’s present to endorse the scheme!
Since September 2023, the new platform has provided 6,245 hours of learning for community rugby volunteers from a range of topics such as the new recycling laws to creating a period positive clubhouse, to Looseheadz Mental Health Ambassadors and unconscious bias to name a few!
92% of learners stated that the webinars were either ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’.
99% of learners would recommend the sessions to other
93% felt more prepared to deal with issues after attending a webinar
86% felt more confident to deal with issues after attending the webinar
However, there is one individual who has championed Dysgu from the start and has been a critical friend and supporter to the team! The team mentioned that there could be no other winner than this individual!
Let’s take a look at what they had to say!
This award is for an outstanding volunteer, who is working in a community club with responsibility for safeguarding and promoting safe and positive behaviours. These responsibilities include – reporting to the senior management committee or board, co-ordinating and maintaining compliance in relation to volunteer recruitment and retention through the DBS process, acting as the first point of contact for players, parents, carers and other volunteers regarding any concerns about any welfare, poor practice or abuse issues and acting as the first point of contact for the Welsh Rugby Union regarding safeguarding issues.
The finalists have dedicated considerable time to volunteering as a Club Safeguarding Officer, developing a pro-active approach to driving the importance of high standards in safeguarding and they have supported coaches and team managers in setting standards for DBS compliance and safe recruitment of volunteers.
The finalists are: • Nicola Palmer – Bargoed RFC • Neil Powell – St Peters RFC • Lucy Moore – South Gower RFC • Alwyn Roberts – Clwb Rygbi’r Bala • Mark Cohen – Abergele RFC
And our winner for 2024 Club Safeguarding Officer of the Year is
This award is for an outstanding volunteer working in a community club who has positively promoted the values of rugby union within their club, ensured compliance with the rules and regulations, and developed a safe and positive environment for all.
The finalists have dedicated a substantial amount of time to their volunteering, enabling rugby to grow safely and positively, they have influenced player welfare initiatives, to ensure the safety of players and have co-ordinated the delivery of integrity related education programmes within their club. The finalists have supported preventative initiatives in relation to match day protocols and promoted positive behaviour.
The finalists are: • Michael Mainwaring – Tylorstown RFC • Dafydd P. Lewis – Clwb Rygbi Dolgellau Cyf • Lyn Davies – Trimsaran • Sioned Eleri Evans – Bae Ceredigion Dolphins Girl’s Rugby Hub
And our winner for 2024 is
This award is presented to a club who have made a significant impact to the development of rugby in the Community. The finalists have demonstrated strong links with the local community, have shown a commitment to being an inclusive club and providing opportunities for all.
The finalists have a well-structured club with clear plans for the future and they have a clear practice for recruiting, recognising and rewarding volunteers. The finalists are: • Bedwelty RFC • Llangefni RFC • Porthcawl RFC
The Connecting Communities Club of the Year for 2024 is
This award is for an outstanding volunteer match official who undertakes volunteering in a match official capacity for the love of the game. This award would apply to a person who gives their time freely to officiate mini and junior games. The finalists regularly undertakes refereeing in Mini and Junior games and has been an inspiration and positive role model.
The finalists follow and uphold the values of the game and have had a positive impact on player development. All finalists hold a recognised WRU Qualification at a level one.
The finalists are: • Shaun Coles – Trimsaran RFC • Ceri Wyn Parry – Clwb Rygbi Caernarfon • David Canham – Knights Girls Rugby Hub & Risca RFC • George Coppack – Shotton Steel RFC Minis & Junior
Let’s take a look at our winner
This award will be made to an outstanding volunteer in a non-coaching or officiating role over the age of 25 years who has made a significant contribution to the development of rugby in their community.
The finalists have been a volunteer in their club or community and without them, rugby would not be the same. They have embedded inclusive practices into their volunteering and the community / club in which they volunteer, helping to remove barriers and inequalities for people to access rugby.
The finalists have adopted a person-centred approach to volunteering, taking time to understand people’s needs and supporting others. The finalists have dedicated a substantial amount of time to rugby.
The finalists are: • Alan Goldup – Vardre RFC • Chris Wright – Wrexham Valkyries • Keith Mellens – Caldicot RFC • Donna Lewis – St Clears RFC • Carl Jenkins – Skewen RFC • Emma Demirpolat – Tumble RFC
Let’s take a look at our winner
This award will be presented to an outstanding individual who has made an exceptional contribution through a lifetime (over 30 years) dedicated to rugby in the community as a volunteer.
The finalists have dedicated many years of volunteering and a substantial amount of time to rugby in their community. Without them, their club / rugby in their community would not be the same. T
hey have been an inspiration and positive role model, they have significantly improved their club and rugby in their community and made a difference to the individuals they work with through a lifelong dedication.
They have gone above and beyond of what is required of them. The finalists are: • Tony Parry – Clwb Rygbi’r Bala • Charles W Davies – Haverfordwest RFC • Robert Williams – Maesteg Harlequins RFC • Steve Carrington – Crickhowell RFC
A worthy winner of our Presidents Lifetime Achievement Award for 2024 is
Volunteers are the lifeblood of our community game but you are only enabled to be a volunteer if you have a strong support system at home! With the amount of hours spent driving your community club forward, it would be impossible without the support of loved ones behind you!
This is no different for a special couple in the room this evening! I first had the pleasure of meeting this couple very early into my career at the WRU and I was told then that this Gentleman works tirelessly and endlessly to ensure their community rugby club has the facilities, team, media and a great clubhouse for the community! Over many years he would often be seen on the mower mowing the grass for game day, marking lines and in meetings to make the club the best it can be! Without him, the club really wouldn’t be what it is today! Only made possible with the support of the team behind the team – his lovely Wife.
This Gentleman retired as the chairman of his Club on 19th June 2023 after 22 years in position. He was one of the founders of the club and played in the first game in 1980.
He and his wife have devoted their life to improving their club both on and off the pitch over the past four decades.
Some of this Gentlemans major achievements include overseeing a significant extension to the club in 2017 that allowed youngsters to have hot food after training and matches, organising numerous club fund raising events and rugby tours, acquiring an additional rugby pitch and establishing flood lights, upgrading the changing rooms and shower facilities, and in recent years expanding the junior sections and girls rugby.
We spoke to this Gentleman this week and was saddened to hear that his lovely Wife has not been in the best of health and Geraint and I thought there was no better way to say Tony and Meg Parry of Bala RFC – thank you! Diolch for everything you have selflessly given to Clwb Rygbi Bala.
You have worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that the rugby club runs like a well oiled machine and the people of Bala and beyond are very much indebted to you both.
This year the WRU had the opportunity to participate in a programme by S4C to trial the new T1 rugby. We won’t say anymore because the following film speaks for itself and clearly shows the impact rugby has on people!
Take a look at our next Special Recognition Award – the team of Stryd y Scrum 2024!