News from Oriol Ripol
Sale Sharks Official 2008-09 Season Awards Dinner
Thu 5th Mar 09 - 14:32
The Official Sale Sharks 2008.09 Season Awards Dinner will be held in the Insider Suite at Edgeley Park on Thursday 30th April. The club will be celebrating the outstanding on-pitch achievements of the team across the season with eight awards presented on the night including Try of the Season, Academy Player of the Year and Player of the Season.
The night will also be the last official occasion for Sharks' supporters to bid farewell to a number of long-serving players including Jason White, Sebastien Bruno, Lionel Faure and Sebastien Chabal. The club will also officially bid au revoir to former Director of Rugby Philippe Saint Andre for his six years of outstanding service.
For the first time in many years, the club awards dinner will actually take place after the final regular season game of the season (at home against Northampton Saints on 25th April). However, we may just have a Guinness Premiership Semi-Final to look forward to the following weekend (9/10 May). So hopefully there will be plenty of anticipation to go along with the celebrations on the night.
Last season's dinner saw Charlie Hodgson awarded the Player of the Year, whilst Lee Thomas and Will Cliff took home the Players' Player of the Year and Academy Player of the Year respectively. Oriol Ripol's consistent form was recognised as the club's Most Consistent Player, and Rudi Keil's off-pitch support of local schools and rugby clubs was appreciated as he was presented with the Community Player of the Year Award. Everyone enjoyed a good laugh at the expense of Steve Hanley whose 'fearsome play' over his ten year career earned him the Sin Bin Award. Forward Sean Cox beat out internationals Rory Lamont and Luke McAlister to win the Breakthrough Player of the Year. However, Rory did take home the Best Try of the Season award, as voted upon by the attendees on the night, for his end to end score away at Cardiff in the EDF Energy Cup.
Tables of 10 are available at £850 excl. vat and include a table position with an excellent view of the stage and the opportunity to host a Sale Sharks player at your table. The package includes a champagne reception, excellent four course meal, exclusive souvenir event programme, photograph take with your Sharks' player and a great night out celebrating the 2008.09 Season.
Tables can be purchased by ringing Colin McKevitt on 0161 286 8911 or email hospitaliity@salesharks.com.
There will also be a very limited number of places for just £58 per person available exclusively to Sale Sharks season ticket holders until 3PM Friday 20th March. These places will be sold on a first come, first served basis and are expected to sell out very quickly. Season ticket holders are asked to ring 08444 994 994 and select option 4 to book their places at this exclusive price.
We also seeking eight sponsors to sponsor and present the awards on the night. The Awards Sponsors will receive a table of 10 with a Sharks' player of their choice, logo recognition as award sponsor in the programme and on the big screen, listing as event sponsor in all promotional material, and a representative from the sponsor will present the award on stage. These packages cost just £1500 excl. vat and can be purchased by ringing Julie Loynd on 0161 286 8901 or email julie.loynd@salesharks.com.
The awards that are available for sponsorship on the night are as follows:
- Player of the Year - Coaches choice of the top player this season.
- Players' Player of the Year - Player's choice of the top player this season.
- Try of the Season - Coaching staff will nominate 6 tries to be shown throughout the meal and supporters will vote on their favourite try.
- Most Consistent Player of the Year - Coaches choice of the club's most consistent performer throughout the long Premiership, Heineken Cup and EDF Energy Cup season.
- Academy Player of the Year - Coaches choice of the top performing academy player this season.
- Breakthrough Player of the Year - Coaches choice from either signings that are new to the club or academy players that have broken through into the first team to become outstanding performers this season.
- Sin Bin Award - Sponsored by Hogfather Motorcycles
- Community Player of the Year - Chosen by the club's Rugby in the Community programme. Awarded to the player who makes the most outstanding contribution to off-field activities in the local community.