Jamie's dedication to rugby nets him a Try Harder Rugby Award

Unusually, it was not Jamie's playing endeavours on the rugby pitch which persuaded the Award judges to bestow the honour on him, but rather his dedication to the sport he no longer is able to play.

Just over a year ago, during a schools rugby match Jamie suffered serious injuries to his leg, including a dislocated ankle, cruciate ligament injuries and a multiplicity of fractures to his leg and ankle.

Dedicated

With all the pain he had to go through no one would have been surprised if he were turned off rugby for good but, being such a dedicated player and supporter of the sport, his main concern was to continue his involvement in the game with his school.

Once back on his feet he first of all started videoing the 1st XV's matches, then took on the coaching of the first-year players and finally took up the whistle to start refereeing.

Jamie is working hard with his physio and is hoping to get back to playing at some stage but until then he is reasonably content to hone his refereeing skills and help the school's younger players.

Understandably delighted with himself, Jamie said: "I was absolutely over the moon when I heard I had won this award. I really could hardly believe it.

"One of my classmates won a Vodafone award a few years ago and it was something that I had always wanted to win while I was playing but had thought my chance had passed me by. I really appreciate Vodafone running these awards for schools rugby players."

Jamie, who is 16 and lives in Kilfennan, is studying mathematics, science, English, PE, French, technology and geography for his GCSEs.

He had always aimed at becoming a sports coach of some sort after leaving school but since his accident and exposure to lots of physiotherapy he thinks he might now go down that route. He would ideally like to be a sports-team physio so he, in turn, could help other injured players

Activities

Outside of school Jamie involved in various activities, including being a member of the Boys Brigade and the Army Cadets.

Unfortunately, his sporting love for cricket has been put on hold for the moment as, having miss the rugby season, he also missed the cricket season for both his school and Brigade Cricket Club.

Like a great many of school players he visits Ravenhill from time to time and names Stephen Ferris and Tommy Bowe as among his favourite players.

Nominating Jamie for the October Award, David Barnett, the school's PE teacher, said: "Jamie is a young person who needs to be recognised as it would have been so easy for him to give up rugby which would have been a loss. I think it is really important to keep young players like Jamie involved in the game in any capacity."

Pauline Quigley, Head of Vodafone Northern Ireland, said: "Congratulations to Jamie on winning the first Try Harder Rugby Award for Schools of the season. The judges felt that the dedication wh

"ich Jamie has demonstrated by his willingness to be involved in rugby in any capacity since his injury is highly laudable.

"I would like to wish him the very best with his rehabilitation and hope that he will be able to return to playing, if that is what he wants."

Jamie now receives a voucher for 300 from Vodafone; his school receives a 500 voucher and his nominator an iPhone 4.