Thursday night was a big night for ARFC. A group of members and players attended the East Hampshire Sports Awards 2019. With several nominations across the club for Awards, which itself is a great achievement, there was great excitement that the club and members would come away with with some top awards.

Kathleen Digby appeared on the top 3 shortlist for ‘Coach of the Year’ at the East Hampshire Sports Awards. Although not the final winner, it was still a fantastic achievement when you consider just how many sports coaches there are in East Hampshire. So incredibly well done for coming so close, Kathleen. Now, of course, Kathleen, would modestly claim that the above achievements are all down to her wider team and, for this reason, we were over the moon to watch Amy Sly collect the ‘Young Volunteer of the Year’ Award at the same ceremony - for her contribution to netball and to ARFC rugby. Incredibly well done, Amy!

And the ARFC achievements didn’t stop there! Ashley Hamer was joint winner of the ‘Outstanding Personal Achievement’ Award for everything he has done (and the many hours he has contributed) to build our Colts into the fine, achieving team that they are. A hugely well-deserved accolade! As was, to everyone’s massive delight, the presentation of the ‘Service to Sport’ award to our Club President, Tom Mills. No one could have done more for the sport of rugby - almost 50 years (some think more!) of contribution to ARFC and the game as player, Treasurer, Coach (including Ladies), Chair, President & so much more - even now temporary Bar Chair and leader of the Maintenance Action Group! That win was so richly deserved.

Just a little disappointingly, our U15s, though finalists, did not win ‘Junior Team of the Year’ but they are achieving recognition in many other ways - and we believe that each and every one of our young teams are ‘Teams of the Year’. Likewise, ARFC - we came so close to being ‘Club of the Year’ but the title alluded us this year (we’ll be back!!). Nonetheless, we feel very proud and hugely heartened by what this year’s nomination for the Club