SKIPTON Ladies rugby players have been nominated for a national award.

Skipton RFC ladies team, the Roses, earlier this month launched their recruitment campaign which coincided with the start of their pre-season training with a presentation evening with head coach Brian Brocksom.

To kick start the evening team captain Olivia Schepisi was presented the RFU League Winners Plaque for the 2022/23 season and a framed team photo, which will sit beside the plaque in the clubhouse and is the first official photo of the Roses to be displayed in the clubhouse.

This was followed by club president Simon Smith announcing that Olivia Schepisi, vice captain Charlotte Knowles and team manager Kimberley Chapman had won the regional stage of the RFU Honda Volunteer of the Year Award and had progressed to the National Volunteer of the Year Awards.

The ceremony is to be hosted at Twickenham Stadium, the home of English Rugby, on Friday, September 1 and will include a black tie event where the winners will be announced.

Rugby in England relies on a large volunteer base with approximately 100,000 people volunteering throughout a full season so for Olivia, Charlotte and Kimberley, who are also players, to reach the final stage is an remarkable achievement, the club says adding: "Everyone is rooting for the girls to go on and win it."

In addition, Olivia, Charlotte and Kimberley were nominated in the “Challenging Spirit” category. This award is to recognise an individual or a group of volunteers who have demonstrated a can-do attitude to overcoming challenges and/or implemented new ideas to help re-build after the pandemic and all three have been integral in building the women’s rugby section, assisting in promoting girls involvement with rugby leading to a girls' section and improving the provisions and facilities at the club for girls and women’s rugby to flourish at Skipton RFC.

Ladies Captain Olivia Schepisi received her plaque and team photo from coach Brian Brocksom. Charlotte Knowles was handed her regional winners certificate and goodies from club president Simon Smith and chair Andy Jeffery.

Simon and Andy then presented Kimberley Chapman and Olivia Schepisi with their own regional winners certificates and goodies.

Skipton Roses can be followed on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/SkiptonRoses/

They field two teams in the RFU leagues. They describe themselves as a 'merry bunch'. New or experienced players are always welcome to join.