Rugby Southland Rugby Community Awards 2024


The Rugby Southland Community Rugby Annual Awards are an incredibly prestigious and important part of the fabric of our game. 

Taking the time to recognise, celebrate and reward the individuals and collective groups within our rugby community that stand out as leaders, contributors and innovators on and off the field, is something we take immense pride in, and place significant importance on. 

We invite nominations for the below award categories. 


2024 Community and Representative Rugby Awards 

Volunteering takes on many forms and positively impacts our rugby communities in ways that are immeasurable.  Enabling our game to be played, administered, and delivered – our volunteers are people who freely give their time to their rugby community – making it a better place for those they are serving and supporting.  Many volunteers’ efforts are the result of several years of commitment and involvement, so a nomination may recognise the total contribution to rugby, over the last few years. However, a nominee does not need to have been involved in rugby for a lifetime.  Nominees may have made a huge contribution to their club, sub-union or rugby community over the last 12 months and that makes them equally worthy of nomination.  These awards are an opportunity to acknowledge the amazing work done by our volunteers throughout the Southland Wide Rugby Community at grassroots level. 

Eligibility 

For all community categories, the person nominated must be a “volunteer - a coach, manager, administration, referee” – defined as someone who does not receive a significant source of income from the role that they fulfil.  

Who can nominate: All members of the Southland Wide Rugby Community, including parents/caregivers of junior players, are eligible to nominate candidates for the Community Rugby Awards.      

How to nominate: Nominations must be made completing an electronic sporty form.  Nominations close on Sunday 29th September 2024   


Community Rugby Awards Night

Finalists will be selected by a panel made up of Rugby Southland affiliated partners and Rugby Southland Staff.   The winner of each category will be announced at the “Rugby Southland Community Rugby” Awards Night on Wednesday 16th October 2024


Categories/Nominations  

Rugby Southland Community Coach of the Year – Community Nominated

Rugby Southland Southland Wide Most Improved Club Team (Bill Foster Trophy) - Community Nominated 

Rugby Southland Junior Rugby Volunteer of the Year – New - Community Nominated

Rugby Southland Senior Rugby Volunteer of the Year – New - Community Nominated

Rugby Southland Behind the Scenes: Unsung Hero - Community Nominated

Rugby Southland Club of the Year - Community Nominated


Criteria - See below 


Criteria

Please read the below criteria for the award you are nominating for carefully and provide as much detail as possible.  If you need to provide further documentation, please email to clubs@rugbysouthland.co.nz with your name and the nominees name in the subject line. 



Rugby Southland Community Coach of the Year 

  • A volunteer coach who has contributed significantly to rugby in Southland at any level.  This person will demonstrate the following qualities:  
  • Coaches a team/s in Southland at any level including junior, teenage, senior, or representative  
  • Contributes to the development of players and/or other coaches – learning new skills and developing as people.  
  • Has demonstrated a positive commitment to ongoing learning and development as a coach  
  • Demonstrates positive coaching behaviours – i.e. positive side-line behaviours, good role model on and off the field, players engagement, that supports their club/team to be successful in the long term.   
  • Created a positive team environment with their players enjoyment of the game at the heart of their coaching, bringing out the best in their team. 
  • On field results may play a part, however this is not their key focus.  


Rugby Southland Southland Wide Most Improved Club Team (Bill Foster Trophy)

This team will have seen significant improvement with their on-field performance in their 2024 season.


Rugby Southland Junior Rugby Volunteer of the Year 

 A volunteer, who contributes significantly to junior rugby as a coach, manager, administrator and/or referee. This person will demonstrate the following qualities:  

  • Is a volunteer member of your club but does not necessarily take on the responsibility of leadership roles within the organisation, e.g. President, secretary, treasurer, club captain, junior convenor.  May be involved in either one or more of coaching, managing, refereeing, or administration. 
  • Always has the best interests of the community and the people at heart  
  • Gives over and above what could reasonably be expected from a person in that position  
  • Is one of those people that every organisation needs and depends on to get things done 
  • Works well as a team member and supports and encourages all members of their club 
  • Is respected and admired and always gets the best out of people. 
  • Will most frequently be found working at Club/School level, although may be involved at representative level  
  • Presents as a positive role model to other young people through their behaviour and involvement within their club/school by demonstrating behaviours that encourage our Juniors – i.e. positive side-line behaviours, good role model on and off the field, players engagement,  


 Rugby Southland Senior Rugby Volunteer of the Year

A volunteer, who contributes significantly to senior rugby as a coach, manager, administrator and/or referee. This person will most demonstrate the following qualities: 

  • Is a volunteer member of club bua senior club but does not necessarily take on the responsibility of leadership roles within the organisation, e.g. President, secretary, treasurer, club captain.  May be involved in either one or more of coaching, managing, refereeing, or administration. 
  • Always has the best interests of the community and the people at heart  
  • Gives over and above what could reasonably be expected from a person in that position  
  • Is one of those people that every organisation needs and depends on to get things done 
  • Works well as a team member and supports and encourages all members of their club 
  • Is respected and admired and always gets the best out of people. 
  • Will most frequently be found working at Club/School level, although may be involved at representative level  
  • Makes a significant contribution to the success of their club 
  • Presents as a positive role model in their club by their behaviour and involvement within their club by demonstrating positive side-line behaviour, good role model on and off the field, players engagement, community involvement 


Rugby Southland Behind the Scenes: Unsung Hero

Open to any club or school to nominate people who they think have done something special or gone the extra mile and need some recognition.   

A volunteer who has positively contributed to making their Rugby Community better by having a significant impact on the sport and the people. This person will mostly demonstrate the following qualities:  

  • Is heavily involved in Rugby Community  
  • Their attitude and behaviour are outstanding and have a positive impact on people’s experience including but not limited to…  
  • − being reliable and fair  
  • − make rugby fun  
  • − having a selfless attitude 
  • − being well respected and liked by others  
  • − inspire people to be their best self  
  • − take initiative 
  • − role models positive behaviour on and off the field  
  • Has demonstrated generosity to their club/school/team through their volunteering - this may include but not be limited to, their personal time, energy, or own resources.  
  •  Has a feel-good spirit that brings people closer together within not only their club but the Southland Wide Rugby Community  


Rugby Southland Community Team of the Year

Our team of the year will be a tight knit group who have achieved more than the sum of their parts. They may not have been world-beaters, but they will have qualities as a group that embody everything that is great about rugby.  They will have contributed to their club, community and whanau beyond game-time.   They will embody diversity and inclusion, have helped out where needed, been a positive influence for the current and up-and-coming players around them - demonstrating what it means to be a member of their team and club in a positive way.


Rugby Southland Community Club of the Year 

Open to all clubs that have competed successfully, shown an outstanding ability to provide for its members and contributed to the community.   This Club will be respected within the rugby community for its leadership, vision and initiatives that see them working on and off the field for the betterment of the rugby community.   The club of the year award will be awarded to a club that has made a positive impact on the community and their people; the club must show but not limited to  

  • Focuses on enhancing the quality of the opportunities provided to their members  
  • Providing playing and development opportunities for all ages, genders and skill levels  
  • Offering inclusive and diverse opportunities for all  
  • Have coaches that encouraged their players and are positive role models in the community  
  • Is a club that gets involved for the greater good of their people and the community, not just the good of the sport  
  • Invests time, effort, and resources to strengthen their junior programme with an emphasis on fun, enjoyment and inclusion  
  • Provides a safe, social and emotional environment for members and families  
  • They try innovative ways of enhancing, strengthening and/or improving their clubs, their members’ experiences, and their operations ​​​​​​​