Honda Volunteer of the Year Awards 2024
On Tuesday, July 2nd, Somerset Rugby and England Rugby proudly presented the Honda Volunteer of the Year Awards 2024, hosted at Howards Motor Group in Taunton.
The Honda Volunteer of the Year Awards is a nationwide initiative that invites nominations for volunteers at grassroots rugby clubs or within the broader rugby community who have made outstanding contributions to the sport over the past year. From coaches to secretaries and grounds teams, rugby thrives thanks to the tireless efforts of these behind-the-scenes heroes.
With over 100,000 volunteers across the country, the Honda Volunteer Recognition Programme offers a chance to express gratitude to those who continually support the rugby community. This year’s national awards programme focused on four specific categories:
- Unsung Hero
- Game for All
- Connecting the Community
- Game Changer
Over 30 volunteers or volunteer groups from clubs across Somerset were nominated, making the event a wonderful celebration of the hard work volunteers put into facilitating rugby in the county.
Unsung Hero nominees are those who have gone above and beyond to develop their club and provide positive experiences for members, whether by completing essential behind-the-scenes tasks or showing a willingness to ensure the club’s future.
Game for All nominees are recognised for their efforts to make rugby more inclusive and accessible by opening the game to new and under-represented audiences.
Connecting the Community nominees have strengthened their club’s presence in the community, participating in local events, supporting causes, and providing opportunities for community engagement beyond rugby.
Game Changer is a new category celebrating those who have embraced innovation to improve their club and the wider game, demonstrating an open mind and a willingness to adapt and learn for the club’s future.
Selecting a shortlist for the national panel was challenging due to the high quality of applications. The selected nominees were:
- Game for All: Carrie Tovey – Imperial
- Connecting the Community: Billy Ellens – Chard RFC
- Lara Deakin – Crewkerne RFC
- Unsung Hero: Dumiso Ncube – Tor RFC
- Game Changer: Dave Barton – Burnham on Sea RFC
Typically, only one overall finalist is chosen. This year, we are thrilled to have two finalists from Somerset who will be invited to the National Awards at Twickenham later this year:
- Billy Ellens – Chard RFC (Connecting the Community)
- Dumiso Ncube – Tor RFC (Unsung Hero)
Matt Nebel, Volunteer Coordinator for Somerset Rugby, commented, “We are delighted to celebrate all our volunteers through the Honda Volunteer Recognition Programme and recognize the exceptional work done to ensure others can play rugby and clubs remain at the heart of their communities. The tireless work Dumiso and Billy have done for their clubs is fantastic, and we wish them the best of luck at the national awards at Twickenham.”
Somerset Rugby, like all its member clubs, is run by volunteers and is currently seeking individuals with new ideas and a passion for rugby. To find out how you can make a difference to Somerset Rugby, please email volunteer@somersetrfu.co.uk.
Somerset Rugby extends heartfelt thanks to Honda UK for their partnership in making these awards possible and to Howards Motor Group for hosting the event.
