Latest news with #RUWC
Wales Online
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Wales Online
Inspirational Welsh rugby figure with terminal diagnosis honoured in the middle of toughest challenge yet
Inspirational Welsh rugby figure with terminal diagnosis honoured in the middle of toughest challenge yet The former WRU commercial chief wasn't able to collect the award in person as he's currently rowing from Tenby to Cardiff Craig Maxwell accepts his RUWC's Investec Special Award for his fundraising efforts (Image: Whisper/RUWC ) Former Welsh Rugby Union and Six Nations commercial chief Craig Maxwell has once again been recognised for his incredible feats in the face of adversity – as he embarks on another huge challenge this week. In September 2022, Maxwell received the devastating and life-changing news he had been diagnosed with incurable and inoperable lung cancer. At that stage, it would have been easy for Maxwell to feel sorry for himself. But the way he has responded to the worst possible update anyone could receive has been nothing short of inspiring. Despite battling cancer and undergoing chemotherapy, Maxwell has taken on a series of extraordinary fundraising challenges, to date raising more than £1.6million to support the cancer pathway in Wales. Maxwell has completed the London Marathon, led a bike ride from Cardiff to Paris and last year, walked the 780-mile Wales Coastal Path in just 26 days before delivering the match ball ahead of Wales' 2024 Six Nations clash with France. This week, Maxwell and his team are rowing 72 miles from Tenby to Cardiff ahead of the Investec Champions Cup final between Northampton and Bordeaux at Cardiff's Principality Stadium with the aim of raising more money for vital cancer research. His fundraising efforts really have been nothing short of epic and are designed to aid Welsh cancer charity Velindre's support of the QuicDNA Project. At the annual Rugby Writers' Club lunch, held this week at The Oval cricket ground in south London, Maxwell's achievements were honoured as he was bestowed with the club's Investec Special Award for his incredible fundraising and strength of spirit. Article continues below "I should be somewhere between Swansea and Porthcawl as we speak," said Craig via a video message. "It's a huge honour to receive this award. "I thank you very much for recognising the work me and my family have done in raising vital funds for the cancer pathway in Wales." The QuicDNA Project aims to shorten the time it takes to diagnose cancer through the use of blood tests or liquid biopsies instead of needle biopsies. If cancer can be detected earlier, a patient can be given treatment sooner and therefore have a greater chance of survival. Maxwell had a long and successful career with the WRU, doubling Welsh rugby's revenues and working on successful deals which involved Under Armour coming on board as Wales' kit supplier and the stadium rights deal for what is now known as Principality Stadium. He was a key figure in Welsh rugby's corridors of power during one of the WRU's most successful periods as Six Nations Grand Slams and titles on the field were matched by unprecedented commercial success off it. In 2020, Maxwell joined the Six Nations and has been central to the huge growth the organisation has seen in recent years. In recognition of his efforts, Maxwell has also received an OBE and a Pride of Britain award. His latest gesture of appreciation from the rugby community and its media meant a lot to Maxwell. 'Since my diagnosis in September 2022, rugby has done so much for me," he said. "There are so many people who have wrapped their arms around me and my family and given us all the support and care we need to get through what has been our most difficult times. I can't thank the game enough, but more importantly, I can't thank the people that are in it." Maxwell was joined in receiving the Investec Special Award by another inspirational figure in former Leicester Tigers forward Matt Hampson, who in the 20 years since suffering a devastating spinal injury, has achieved remarkable things through the work of his foundation. Maxwell spoke to WalesOnline last week about his epic rowing challenge, which you can read in full here. Article continues below To donate towards Craig Maxwell's Coastal Row Challenge, you can visit
CNA
22-05-2025
- Sport
- CNA
France's Bielle-Biarrey wins British writers' award
LONDON :France and Bordeaux-Begles winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey was named the British Rugby Union Writers' Club personality of the year on Thursday after an incredible season for club and country that could get better yet. Bielle-Biarrey, 21, is the youngest winner of the Pat Marshall award since New Zealand wing Jonah Lomu in 1995. He scored in every match of the Six Nations, claiming a tournament record of eight in all, to help France to the title. His electric pace has been just as effective for Bordeaux-Begles, who are riding high in second place in the French Top 14 and who face Northampton in the European Champions Cup final in Cardiff on Saturday seeking to win the title for the first time. In all, Bielle-Biarrey has scored a remarkable 31 tries in 27 games for club and country this season. "It is really an honour for me to write my name next to these the legends of the game,' he told the RUWC on receipt of the trophy. 'It is a big honour, and thank you to all the journalists.' He is the third Frenchman to win the award, following Antoine Dupont in 2021 and Jean-Pierre Rives in 1981. List of winners of the RUWC Pat Marshall award 1976 MERVYN DAVIES (Swansea and Wales) 1977 ANDY IRVINE (Heriot's FP and Scotland) 1978 GARETH EDWARDS (Cardiff and Wales) 1979 JPR WILLIAMS (Bridgend and Wales) 1980 BILL BEAUMONT (Fylde and England) 1981 JEAN-PIERRE RIVES (Toulouse and France) 1982 OLLIE CAMPBELL (Old Belvedere and Ireland) 1983 DAVE LOVERIDGE (Taranaki and New Zealand) 1984 JIM AITKEN (Gala and Scotland) 1985 MICK DOYLE (Ireland coach) 1986 JONATHAN DAVIES (Neath and Wales) 1987 DAVID KIRK (Auckland and New Zealand) 1988 ROBERT NORSTER (Cardiff and Wales) 1989 FINLAY CALDER (Stewart's-Melville FP and Scotland) 1990 IAN McGEECHAN (Scotland coach) 1991 DAVID CAMPESE (NSW and Australia) 1992 NICK FARR-JONES (NSW and Australia) 1993 BEN CLARKE (Bath and England) 1994 FRANCOIS PIENAAR (Transvaal and South Africa) 1995 JONAH LOMU (Counties and New Zealand) 1996 SEAN FITZPATRICK (Auckland and New Zealand) 1997 LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO (Wasps and England) 1998 NICK MALLETT (South Africa coach) 1999 TIM HORAN (Queensland and Australia) 2000 PAT LAM (Northampton and Samoa) 2001 MARTIN JOHNSON (Leicester and England) 2002 JONNY WILKINSON (Newcastle and England) 2003 MARTIN JOHNSON (Leicester and England) 2004 ROBERT HOWLEY (Wasps and Wales) 2005 GARETH THOMAS (Toulouse and Wales) 2006 JASON WHITE (Sale and Scotland) 2007 JASON ROBINSON (Sale and England) 2008 SHANE WILLIAMS (Ospreys and Wales) 2009 BRIAN O'DRISCOLL (Leinster and Ireland) 2010 MAGGIE ALPHONSI (Saracens and England) 2011 SAM WARBURTON (Cardiff Blues and Wales) 2012 CHRIS ROBSHAW (Harlequins and England) 2013 LEIGH HALFPENNY (Cardiff Blues and Wales) 2014 EMILY SCARRATT (Lichfield and England) 2015 DAN CARTER (Crusaders and New Zealand) 2016 EDDIE JONES (England coach) 2017 OWEN FARRELL (Saracens and England) 2018 JONATHAN SEXTON (Leinster and Ireland) 2019 SIYA KOLISI (Stormers and South Africa) 2020 ROB BAXTER (Exeter Chiefs coach) 2021 ANTOINE DUPONT (Toulouse and France) 2022 SARAH HUNTER (Loughborough Lightning and England)
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Reuters
France's Bielle-Biarrey wins British writers' award
LONDON, May 22 (Reuters) - France and Bordeaux-Begles winger Louis Bielle-Biarrey was named the British Rugby Union Writers' Club personality of the year on Thursday after an incredible season for club and country that could get better yet. Bielle-Biarrey, 21, is the youngest winner of the Pat Marshall award since New Zealand wing Jonah Lomu in 1995. He scored in every match of the Six Nations, claiming a tournament record of eight in all, to help France to the title. His electric pace has been just as effective for Bordeaux-Begles, who are riding high in second place in the French Top 14 and who face Northampton in the European Champions Cup final in Cardiff on Saturday seeking to win the title for the first time. In all, Bielle-Biarrey has scored a remarkable 31 tries in 27 games for club and country this season. "It is really an honour for me to write my name next to these the legends of the game,' he told the RUWC on receipt of the trophy. 'It is a big honour, and thank you to all the journalists.' He is the third Frenchman to win the award, following Antoine Dupont in 2021 and Jean-Pierre Rives in 1981. List of winners of the RUWC Pat Marshall award 1976 MERVYN DAVIES (Swansea and Wales) 1977 ANDY IRVINE (Heriot's FP and Scotland) 1978 GARETH EDWARDS (Cardiff and Wales) 1979 JPR WILLIAMS (Bridgend and Wales) 1980 BILL BEAUMONT (Fylde and England) 1981 JEAN-PIERRE RIVES (Toulouse and France) 1982 OLLIE CAMPBELL (Old Belvedere and Ireland) 1983 DAVE LOVERIDGE (Taranaki and New Zealand) 1984 JIM AITKEN (Gala and Scotland) 1985 MICK DOYLE (Ireland coach) 1986 JONATHAN DAVIES (Neath and Wales) 1987 DAVID KIRK (Auckland and New Zealand) 1988 ROBERT NORSTER (Cardiff and Wales) 1989 FINLAY CALDER (Stewart's-Melville FP and Scotland) 1990 IAN McGEECHAN (Scotland coach) 1991 DAVID CAMPESE (NSW and Australia) 1992 NICK FARR-JONES (NSW and Australia) 1993 BEN CLARKE (Bath and England) 1994 FRANCOIS PIENAAR (Transvaal and South Africa) 1995 JONAH LOMU (Counties and New Zealand) 1996 SEAN FITZPATRICK (Auckland and New Zealand) 1997 LAWRENCE DALLAGLIO (Wasps and England) 1998 NICK MALLETT (South Africa coach) 1999 TIM HORAN (Queensland and Australia) 2000 PAT LAM (Northampton and Samoa) 2001 MARTIN JOHNSON (Leicester and England) 2002 JONNY WILKINSON (Newcastle and England) 2003 MARTIN JOHNSON (Leicester and England) 2004 ROBERT HOWLEY (Wasps and Wales) 2005 GARETH THOMAS (Toulouse and Wales) 2006 JASON WHITE (Sale and Scotland) 2007 JASON ROBINSON (Sale and England) 2008 SHANE WILLIAMS (Ospreys and Wales) 2009 BRIAN O'DRISCOLL (Leinster and Ireland) 2010 MAGGIE ALPHONSI (Saracens and England) 2011 SAM WARBURTON (Cardiff Blues and Wales) 2012 CHRIS ROBSHAW (Harlequins and England) 2013 LEIGH HALFPENNY (Cardiff Blues and Wales) 2014 EMILY SCARRATT (Lichfield and England) 2015 DAN CARTER (Crusaders and New Zealand) 2016 EDDIE JONES (England coach) 2017 OWEN FARRELL (Saracens and England) 2018 JONATHAN SEXTON (Leinster and Ireland) 2019 SIYA KOLISI (Stormers and South Africa) 2020 ROB BAXTER (Exeter Chiefs coach) 2021 ANTOINE DUPONT (Toulouse and France) 2022 SARAH HUNTER (Loughborough Lightning and England) 2023 COURTNEY LAWES (Northampton Saints and England) 2024 LOUIS BIELLE-BIARREY (Bordeaux-Begles and France)
The Independent
22-05-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
France flyer Louis Bielle-Biarrey wins prestigious rugby writers' award
France flyer Louis Bielle-Biarrey has been voted the recipient of the prestigious Pat Marshall Award by the Rugby Union Writers' Club (RUWC). The prize is awarded annually to the outstanding rugby personality after a vote of top journalists, pundits and commentators, with Bielle-Biarrey becoming the youngest winner since fellow wing wonder Jonah Lomu in 1995. The 21-year-old starred to help France romp to a Six Nations title and has also powered Bordeaux-Begles towards a possible Top 14 and Champions Cup double, with the club taking on Northampton in the European final this weekend. In all, Bielle-Biarrey has scored an extraordinary 31 tries in 27 games for club and country this campaign, including eight in the Six Nations. 'It is really an honour for me to write my name next to these the legends of the game,' he said after succeeding Courtney Lawes as the Pat Marshall winner. 'It is a big honour, and thank you to all the journalists.' Bielle-Biarrey follows Antoine Dupont (2021) and Jean-Pierre Rives (1981) as French winners of the award. He narrowly pipped Shaun Edwards, France's defence coach, from a competitive list of contenders that included Sean Lynn, Dupont and Ellie Kildunne. The RUWC also recognised two remarkable individuals at their annual lunch, with Craig Maxwell and Matt Hampson given the Investec Special Award. Maxwell, former commercial chief at the Welsh Rugby Union and Six Nations, has raised more than £1.6m for charity since being diagnosed with incurable and inoperable lung cancer in 2022. Former England and Leicester prop Hampson, meanwhile, suffered a life-changing injury while training with the national U21 side, but has spent the past 20 years inspiring and supporting other young people seriously injured through sport through his foundation and the Get Busy Living centre.
