Owen Lane and Olly Robinson win big at the Cardiff Blues awards

Owen Lane and Olly Robinson took home the main awards at the 2018/19 Cardiff Blues Awards hosted by Cardiff and Vale College.

Lane was crowned Peter Thomas Player of the Year after scoring 11 tries in 18 games across all competitions, earning a call-up to the Wales pre-World Cup training squad, while Olly Robinson took home Players’ Player of the Year, his second award in a week after winning the Pro14’s Turnover King title.

Elsewhere in the rugby section there were awards for Hit of the Season, won by Josh Turnbull for his tackle away at Scarlets, and Try of the Season, awarded to Matthew Morgan for his effort at Saracens. Jason Harries was named Discovery of the Season and Ben Thomas scooped Academy Player of the Season.

For the women there were awards for Manon Johnes, who won Senior Player of the Year after a breakthrough season with Cardiff Blues and with Wales, while Bryonie King won the U18 Player of the Year prize.

Off the field Matthew Jones, the head groundsman and facilities co-ordinator at the Arms Park, won Office Employee of the Season, while head chef at The Vale Tony Kocker was awarded Rugby Employee of the Season.

The Cardiff Blues Community Foundation also gave out awards, with Laura Davies of the Capital Girls’ Rugby Hub taking home the Club Recongition Award, Seimon Edwards of Ysgol Plasmawr and Cardiff Schools U15s won the School Recognition Award, and Gilfach Goch RFC’s Craig Enticott scooped the Young Leader Award.

There was also an Outstanding Contribution to Community Rugby Award given to Roy Wilkinson for his work with Porth Harlequins and the Cardiff Chiefs mixed ability rugby team.

Finally, Gethin Jenkins was honoured with the Special Recognition Award after hanging up his boots earlier in the season, and there was also nods to Peter Thomas, Sir Gareth Edwards and Paul Bailey, who have stepped down as Chairman and Directors, respectively, after many years.

The awards everyone is waiting for, the Cardiff Rugby Life Awards, will take place once the season is officially over.