Without volunteers, rugby union as we know it would not exist and Carlisle rugby club is very lucky to have been gifted with a young man who has had such a profound effect across many areas of the game.

Ben Blain, 21, has played for Carlisle from their mini section to the first fifteen, but it is his commitment to helping his club and his county that has allowed him to stand out head and shoulders above the rest.

Ben is a qualified coach and currently head coach of Carlisle u-15’s, although he has helped out coaching several different age groups within the club.

He also has refereed many youth and women’s games, and aims in the not-so-distant future to progress through the ranks to be a national league referee.

The vRugby initiative from the RFU was the vehicle which allowed him to showcase just how much he is capable of.  For the last two seasons, he has been Carlisle’s club activator.

In the 2008-2009 season, he led a team of five young volunteers to raise over £700 in a single day, and in 2009-2010, he led another young team to raise a similar amount, after many of his original ideas were reorganised or scrapped due to the weather that has beset all Cumbrian rugby this season.

Shelley Atkinson, vRugby county activator for Cumbria, said: “Working with Ben for the last two seasons has been an immense pleasure, and to see him develop as a club volunteer into a very well respected and well liked individual who is able to perform any task he has been given has been a privilege.

“I look forward to working with him again closely next season and to seeing how much more of an impact he can have on the Cumbrian game.’

To reward and thank Ben for his contribution to rugby at Carlisle RFC and within Cumbria, Shelley Atkinson and Liam Nicholls (Cumbria RDO) presented him with the RFU gold award, which recognises 50 hours worth of outstanding volunteering.

Ben follows in Shelley’s footsteps as she received the RFU Gold award only 12 months previous.

Nicholls said:  “I have known Ben for a number of years as both a player and a friend and it is an honour to present him with this award in recognition of his outstanding achievement.

“Thanks must also go to David Morton and Martin Plummer from the Carlisle club who have also been instrumental in assisting with the setup of these schemes and providing volunteering opportunities for the young people of the club.”

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