Whitchurch High School is delighted to report on Steve Williams being honoured with a life long rugby achievement award from the Rugby Union Writers’ Club on Sunday 9th January 2010

Rugby sportswriter and journalist Robert Cole wrote:-

Whitchurch High School stalwart Steve Williams was among six very special rugby men and women honoured by the Rugby Union Writers' Club for their services to the game at their 50th annual dinner in London this week. The 63-year-old Williams, who heads up the in-house Estates Team at Whitchurch HS, was presented with one of four 'life-long rugby achievement' awards by RUWC chairman Paul Morgan at the Tower Hotel.

The 500-strong dinner was attended by such global rugby names as Sir Ian McGeechan, Sir Clive Woodward, Martin Johnson, Bill Beaumont, John Jeffrey and Gavin Hastings, as well as many of the world game's leading administrators in IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset, Six Nations and British & Irish Lions chief executive John Feehan, ERC chief executive Derek McGrath and Celtic Rugby tournament organiser David Jordan.

Williams was one of two Welsh recipients of awards on the night, following Welsh Women's Rugby great Non Evans in receiving a prestigious tankard.

"Steve had a good career as a player and an excellent career as a coach, but as a Club we wanted to honour his life-long service to the game as a teacher at Whitchurch HS," said Morgan, who is the Editor of Rugby World magazine. “Our coveted awards have been in place since the seventies and our members scour the country trying to uncover worthy recipients. We want them to know that we appreciate their efforts and acknowledge the commitment they have shown to the game. “

"Steve's credentials are right up there with all our Tankard winners down the years. Without the hard work, strong leadership qualities and wholehearted determination shown by him and so many other school teachers and coaches down the years the game of rugby union wouldn't be in the thriving shape it currently enjoys. The work of games teachers at our schools is far too often overlooked or down graded. People like Steve, and I'm sure so many others at his school and others up and down the country are the life-blood of our game.  When we heard about his near 40 years of service at his school, along with his determination to run two senior sides every Saturday, against increasing odds and interference, we felt we had to show our support and appreciation of his efforts."

As well as Evans and Williams, the British & Irish Lions team doctor James Robson and England World Cup winner Ben Kay were presented with Tankards. The recently retired Lions, England and London Wasps prop Phil Vickery was presented with the Club's 'Special Award' before history was made when England and Saracens flanker Maggie Alphonse became the first  woman to win the Club's highest accolade, the Pat Marshall Memorial Award.”

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