Last night, the Clayton RFC officially closed out their XVs season with the club’s Annual banquet and awards ceremony. The gathering was held in the banquet room at Raleigh Brewing JoCo. The festivities were kicked off with fellowship and catered food.
Club President, Ted Hardy started off the awards presentation. The first round of recognition was presented to two, long standing members, for joining the longevity club. Jeff Barley and Mitch King each played in their 50th match for the club during the 2024/2025 season. The moment was made even more special as Barley made his first public appearance since undergoing a heart transplant almost a month ago. The Clayton RFC congratulates both men on this amazing accomplishment. Barley was the 15th player in club history to reach the Half Century mark while King was the 16th player to hit the milestone. There are multiple players in line to reach the mark next season and a few that may join the Century Club.
Next up was the naming of the Davies Award winner which is given out annually to the club’s top volunteer for their service to the club. This year’s Davies Award winner was Brian Culkin who has been around the club for years as the parent of one of our youth players. This past year, Brian jumped in getting involved both on and off of the pitch with the club. Culkin currently serves as the club’s social chair and has jumped in head first planning social events for the club. He is also always one of the first to turn up for work days and fills in wherever needed to help the club. The Clayton RFC thanks him for his service to his fellow members and the club as a whole.
Men’s coach Walter Webster took over next to present the player’s awards. The first three awards are voted upon by players and the last one is named by the men’s coaching staff.
Most Valuable Back – Ben Roach was named almost unanimously the club’s Back of the Year. Roach came to the club this past season and brought a wealth of knowledge with him. Roach brought veteran leadership to the back line while playing in the centers and led the squad in scoring during the 2024/2025 season.
Most Valuable Forward – Doug Stillwell claimed the Most Valuable Forward award for the second straight season. A veteran and versatile forward, Stillwell played nearly every position in the pack over the course of the past season. He led the forward pack in tries scored this past season.
Rookie of the Year – Caleb Walters picked up the club’s Rookie of the Year. A product of Clayton Youth Rugby, Walters loves to play rugby and shows it on and off the pitch. He has a bright future with the Bootleggers and the club looks forward to seeing him continue to develop.
Coaches’ Award – Christian Copp collected the Coaches’ Award for the effort that he put in this season both in practices and matches. Another newcomer to the club, Copp is another versatile forward that can play multiple positions.
With awards collected by three newcomers to the club and an influx of new players in the last couple of months, the club is excited about the Summer 7s season and the start of pre-season training for XVs in August. The club is always looking for new players, regardless of experience level. If you’re interested in learning more about playing for the Clayton RFC, please email us at info@claytonrfc.com for details.
The Clayton Rugby Football Club would like to thank all of our members… youth, men, and social members for making us your home for rugby. The club would also like to thank all of our volunteers, board members, general committee members, coaches, sponsors, and everyone else that helps aid in the delivery of rugby to our community.
