England women collect gongs

Recognising their 21-9 World Cup final victory over Canada in August, England were crowned the The Sunday Times and Sky Sports Team of the Year.

Meanwhile, Head Coach Gary Street was named the High Performance Coach of the Year at the UK Coaching Awards, which took place in Glasgow and was overseen by Her Royal Highness Princess Anne.

He was then put forward for the overall UK Coach of the Year award and scooped that gong too.

To win the Team of the Year accolade – voted for by the public – England Women fought off stiff opposition from the England cricket side, who retained the Ashes this year, Great Britain’s 4 x 100 metres relay squad, who became European athletics champions, and rowers Helen Glover and Heather Stanning, who blitzed the coxless pairs field at the World Championships this August.

Street’s competition for the coveted Coach of the Year crown was equally fierce, with Rory McIlroy’s mentor Michael Bannon nominated alongside John Conlan (Northern Ireland boxing), Jo Coombs (Welsh gymnastics) and David Somemerville (Scottish judo).

Street said: “It is fantastic that the team continues to be recognised for our achievements this year. There have been some fabulous performances by women’s teams’ sport while personally I am honoured to up against some esteemed coaching company.

“Receiving awards like this makes what we do very special but what is also important is that women’s sport and women’s rugby in England continues to stay in the national spotlight.”

Anastacia Long was also a finalist at the 2014 UK Coaching Awards.Long was shortlisted for the Children’s Coach of the Year award for her efforts in the community game. She developed a rugby programme that not only saw Graveney School enter the NatWest Schools Cup for the first time this year, but make it through to the final of the Under 15 vase competition.

The school now has a team at every age-group and has 45 girls playing weekly.