It had been four long years since the Cayman Rugby Football Union last held its annual awards dinner, and so it was an enthusiastic audience that gathered in the Marriott ballroom on Friday, 14 Oct. to celebrate the sport.
This was a particularly important year for the dinner to be held, as 2022 marks the 50th anniversary for the club, located in South Sound.
As is the tradition, an international star of the pitch was invited to speak at the event, and this year’s guest was an exceptional choice.
Michael Lynagh, the Australian former rugby union player and captain – recognised as one of the greatest fly-halves of all time – was the man of the hour. He kept the room enthralled with stories about his career and pivotal games, including the historic 1991 World Cup quarter-final at Lansdowne Road, where his late try for Australia dashed Ireland’s hopes.
Needless to say, President of the CRFU (and Irishman) Mick Kehoe tried to keep his composure through the telling of the tale, making faces in jest… or were they?
After Lynagh’s speech, he took questions from the audience, providing highly entertaining and informative answers.
The presentation of awards was next on the programme, with Kehoe reading out the names on the trophies, and Lynagh presenting them to those who were in attendance.
There was also a live auction on the night of an Irish World Cup 2015 jersey signed by team members that played, including Rory Best, Cian Healy, Paul O’Connell and Sean O’Brien. Longtime member of the rugby club, Charlie Adams, won the auction with a bid of $6,500 against fierce rival, Jerome Begot.
Funds from the sale are to be donated to the My Name’5 Doddie Foundation, named for George Wilson ‘Doddie’ Weir, Scottish former rugby union player, who was diagnosed with Motor Neuron Disease in 2016. (The ‘5’ in the organisation’s name refers to Weir’s number five shirt number.)
The foundation is committed to improve the lives of those affected by MND.
The raffle draw was the final item on the agenda before The Neverines band took to the stage. DJ Chris ‘Action’ Jackson was also on hand to keep the party going.
Operations manager for the CRFU, Caroline Deegan, was very happy to see that the night was so successful, and said that everyone who attended had a fantastic time.
2022 CRFU Awards
- U19 Heineken Men’s Player of the Year: Freddie Robson (Tradeview Markets Iguanas RFC)
(Honourable mention: Cam Sinclair) - U19 Men’s Most Improved: Liam Sinclair (Tradeview Markets Iguanas RFC)
(Honourable mention: Robert Eyers) - U19 Mens’s Best Newcomer: Tom Byrne
(Honourable mention: Jonny Robson) - Women’s Heineken Player of the Year: Schmarrah McCarthy
- Women’s Most improved: Elaine Whitefield
(Honourable mention: Molly Kehoe) - Women’s Best newcomer: Isobel Tomkinson
(Honourable mention: Tina Murray) - CRTV Heineken Men’s Player of the Year: Blake Egleton (Queengate Pigs Trotters RFC)
(Honourable mentions: Marnus Elhers, Shane Westin, Phil Jacobs) - CRTV Men’s Most Improved: Joe Brown (Advance Fire Buccaneers RFC)
(Honourable mentions: Zac Hutchinson, Jeff Robinson, Alex Fox) - CRTV Men’s Best Newcomer: Alex Claybourn
(Honourable Mentions: Billy Foley, Steve Caffrey, Seb Bjuroe, Liam Sinclair, Cam Sinclair, Freddie Robson) - CRFU Club Person of the Year: Steve Owen (Advance Fire Buccaneers RFC)
- Honorary Lifetime Membership: Dwain McGuinness and Jovan Bowles-Scott
For more information about the Cayman Rugby Football Union, visit its Facebook page or website.
Related Videos
