Club of the Year 2021

This prestigious award is made to a club who has performed well on and off the pitch. The club should have represented our university to the highest standards, embody the University’s values of inclusivity and fair play and have a firm development structure in place to support students of all ability levels.

Shortlist:
Hockey (Cambridge)
Netball (Cambridge)
Women’s Rugby (Cambridge)

Winner: Women's Rugby (Cambridge)

Whether it was during periods of lockdown or during times when more typical club activity was able to go ahead, the Women’s Rugby Club have demonstrated remarkable adaptability and commitment to ensuring that their members continue to enjoy being part of this inclusive club.

During a year dominated by online learning, the club came together as a team to make sure they all stay connected by coordinating a range of activities. These included coffee mornings and “Train with me Mondays”. One of their most notable achievements was leading on the delivery of a quiz which included teams from a range of ARU sports clubs and took place over six-weeks.

The club also used their time during lockdown to fundraise for some worthy charities including the National Paediatric Society, Maggie’s Centres and Steps for Sienna.

In December, the team was split into two, and a programme was developed to provide fitness and wellbeing activities for members to complete to collect points, totalling up for their team. As the programme was designed around rugby skills it acted as an excellent tool for player development as well as supporting the mental health and wellbeing of everyone involved.

Although it’s been an extremely difficult year for ARU sports clubs, the Women’s Rugby Club have worked hard to ensure that their members have still benefitted and that they will be in excellent shape to hit the ground running next season.

Check out the videos below to see the winners' reactions.