Stewart Davies, SRFU Valued Volunteer of the Year collecting his prize from Andy O'Brian (VAA)

Phil Langridge (Eastbourne RFC) collecting his Runners Up award from Graham Thompson

Joint runner up, Ronnie Paulsen (Burgess Hill RFC) with Graham Thompson

Joint runner up - Andy Kipling (Shoreham RFC) and Graham Thompson

A good evening for Shoreham RFC!

Nominated and short listed : Duncan & Sarah Sills (Rye RFC)

Virgin Atlantic SRFU Sponsors

short listed: Kevin Parker and Marcus Davies from Cinque Ports RFC with Graham Thompson

Uckfield RFC Volunteers

Eastbourne RFC Volunteers table

Stewart Davies from Shoreham RFC became Sussex RFU Valued Volunteer of the Year

Sussex RFU Valued Volunteer Recognition Evening


Stewart Davies from Shoreham RFC became Sussex RFU Valued Volunteer of the Year at a well supported evening given by Sussex RFU and held at Hove Rugby Club on Friday. This is the fourth year that Sussex RFU have ran this event and this year Andy O’Brien form Virgin Atlantic, Sussex RFU sponsors, presented Stewart with his RFU Valued Volunteer certificate along with a pair of Virgin Atlantic tickets for topping the voting in a close ran poll.


“I am really very flattered and honoured that I have been picked as the winner. I have brought along new, potential and fellow volunteers from Shoreham RFC to this event for the past three years, and really never expected anything like this to happen to me, I feel I am just one of a team that make Shoreham RFC work.” Said Stewart Davies winner of Sussex RFU Volunteer of the Year


Graham Thompson Sussex’s RFU Representative also presented Phil Langridge from Eastbourne RFC, Ronnie Paulsen of Burgess Hill RFC and Andy Kipling of Shoreham RFC as runners up with a pair of tickets donated by England RFU Community Rugby to watch England v Barbarians play at Twickenham on 30th May. Graham also handed out RFU valued volunteer certificates with ties and scarves to a further 14 individuals and couples who made the shortlist in recognition of their most valued efforts at their local clubs and their combined contribution to making rugby so successful across all of Sussex. 


“Without our army of community rugby volunteers, who year in year out support our all those thousands of players we simply just would have the thriving sport we have now in Sussex. They really are the unsung heroes for any community sport.  Here at Sussex along with the RFU see it of the highest priority that we have the chance to celebrate and recognise their massive input to our sport.” said Gary Howorth, Sussex RFU Community Rugby Chair.

"This event is a great opportunity for clubs to get their people recognised, I really hope that next year we get even more clubs attending than we did this year."