Club of the Year 2014

What makes choosing Club of the Year perhaps more difficult than any other award is that there is rarely any neutral opinion. People invariably – and rightly – put forward their own club and unfortunately we are not yet in the position to be able to visit them all.

The reasons for clubs being nominated varied. Some had done particularly well on the field. Several national champions were nominated including Richmond from England, Montpellier from France, Auckland from New Zealand, Czech champions RC Sparta Prague, Scotland’s Murrayfield Wanderers, perennial Irish champions Old Belvedere, and Spain’s first-time winners Olimpico de Pozuelo. In this category the performance of Germany’s Heidelberger RK - undefeated at both XVs and VIIs for the past four years – particularly stood out.

Other entries looked at development work. French club Bobigny’s efforts to attract young players, the close-knit family that can be found at England’s DMP Sharks, the “big rugby hearts” to be found at Rugby Klub 03 in Berlin, and the “huge advances” to be found at Ireland’s Blackrock College were all impressive. Australia’s Tribe particularly stood out, not only because they were the only sevens team nominated, but because of their commitment to develop the game not just locally but also internationally.

The number of nominations was also a factor (though perhaps less so than for other awards). In this case England’s Thurrock were especially eye-catching as most of the club seems to have put in nominations, supporting the “heart, passion and belief” that many nominees spoke about.

However, after much deliberation one club stood out. It combines success on the field with a good backstory and an impressive number of votes many of which did not all come from its locality (or even its country). That club is…Waikatofrom New Zealand.

Women’s rugby in Waikato has had a bumpy ride over the past decade. Although they had competed in the National Provincial Championship from its early days, they were one of 12 teams wound up when the NZRU reduced the women’s NPC to just six provinces in 2006. However a great deal of dedicated work behind the scenes ensured that six year later they were allowed back.

Women’s rugby in New Zealand has always tended to be dominated by two or three provinces. Since 2006 most championships have finished with Auckland top, Canterbury second, and Wellington not far behind. But 2014 was different. Waikato had only won three games in each of their two seasons since their return, but they equalled that with three wins in the first three games – all by wide margins. Defeat to Auckland was only a minor set-back as they then went on to win all of their remaining games, including big wins over both Canterbury and Wellington, to reach their first ever NPC final. It was not quite the fairy-tale finish - Auckland were to again win the championship – but for a provincial team that did not exist two years before to overcome most of the Old Guard of New Zealand rugby was impressive.

Off the field as well they have much to be proud of. Their strong links with the University of Waikato were instrumental in their getting back into the NPC and many of their players are starting to battle for places in the Black Ferns, at sevens and fifteens.

Finally there was the voting – with the majority of Waikato’s nomination not coming from the province (or even New Zealand).  This is partly due to their having developed strong links with Spain, but it is still impressive that their Spanish supporters chose Waikato ahead of any local team.

As a result our club of the year for 2014 isWAIKATO!