The university of Stirling Women’s Rugby Club (SUWRFC) was shortlisted for a Scottish Student Sport Award.
The ‘Club of the Year’ award at the SSS Awards Dinner was back up for grabs for three Scottish University teams this year.
University of Strathclyde’s Men’s Basketball Club was also nominated with The University of St. Andrews’ Cheerleading Club ultimately taking home the top prize.
After a very successful season both on and off-pitch and winning the Stirling University ‘Club of the Year’ award at their Sports Ball in April, SUWRFC had the opportunity to take home another award this year.
This shortlisting is a demonstration of great achievement for the club, who had a very involved season.
Their very successful Movember campaign, earned the club the ‘Going the Distance’ Team Award. Partnering with Men’s Rugby and working closely with the Oddballs charity foundation also led them to their nomination.
“We are a good team and we have put out the performances this year to show that we are a good team, in sporting regards.”
Not to mention their incredible BUCS results, winning the Varsity match against the University of St. Andrews, and the SSS cup.
Co-president and Captain of the club, Rachel Egan told Brig:
“We won ‘Club of the Year’ three years ago at the Stirling Sports Ball for all the work we did off-pitch. I think this year though, also having on-pitch success has led us to winning again.
“We are a good team and we have put out the performances this year to show that we are a good team, in sporting regards.”
“I am so proud to have been given this recognition on a national scale. It’s something that I never dreamed would happen, so it’s an honour to be listed alongside two other amazing teams.”
The Scottish Student Sport Committee aims the ‘Club of the Year’ award to be the:
“all-round best performing Club, on and off the field of play. [The award] will be given to a club that can demonstrate impact in the 2022-23 season. Fundraising, community links and involvement in institutional activity are just certain elements that would demonstrate excellence.”
Egan continued, saying:
“I think it’s everyone’s effort and commitment that has led us to being shortlisted for the SSS award. It would be so easy for us not to fundraise, or to not get a big attendance at our charity ceilidh we organised, but with the girls that kept pushing and inviting friends along worked this year.
“It was nice to see that any ideas we had for the year were met with positivity.
“I am so proud to have been given this recognition on a national scale. It’s something that I never dreamed would happen, so it’s an honour to be listed alongside two other amazing teams.”
“It was nice to see that any ideas we had for the year were met with positivity.”
21-year-old Co-president and Fundraiser, Nicola MacCallum of the club had emotional words to share on their achievement for their nomination:
“Being shortlisted for ‘Club of the Year’ at the SSS awards is a phenomenal feeling. Being recognised for all of our efforts on and off the pitch throughout this whole season is a perfect end to our time at the club and university.
“By being shortlisted on this even bigger scale, it further recognises the effort each member has put in to enable this success. It truly highlights the growing presence of women’s rugby in academic institutions.”
The University of St. Andrews’ Cheerleading Club won ‘Club of the Year’.
You can stay updated on the results and see photographs of all award winners on the Scottish Student Sport Instagram, @scotstusport, or online at https://www.scottishstudentsport.com/news/sss-awards-celebrating-super-staff-students-and-volunteers/.
Featured Image Credits: Jonathan Boomer (Photography)
Aspiring Journalist
Fourth-year Journalism Student and Sports Editor of BRIG Newspaper at Stirling University
