Admiral Royds Trophy

The Admiral Royds Trophy is awarded to the RNRURS Referee of the Year. It was presented to the Society by Lt Cdr G Ashton Jones RN, a former Chairman of the Society as thanks for all the support given over a most memorable refereeing career. It was first presented in 2007 and replaced the previous shield which unfortunately no longer had any more room for winners names.

Admiral Sir Percy Molyneux Rawson Royds CB CMG ADC was a former England international with three caps. As a Commander he was part of the group of officers who formed the very first committee of the Royal Navy Rugby Union in 1907.  In 1910 he was elected as the Navy Representative to the Rugby Football Union where he became President in 1927. He also served as President of the Royal Navy Rugby Union and the London Society of Referee for who he had a distinguished refereeing career. As a referee he was at the centre of a controversy during the 1924 Olympics when prior to the USA v France match (USA won 17-3) the americans objected to his appointment.

He wrote the History of the Laws of the Game an original copy of which forms part of the trophy.

A number of winners of the Admiral Royds trophy have officiated at the highest level in the game. Steve Harland has been a championship referee a level at which Tim Bailey regularly operates as an Assistant Referee, whilst Roger Baileff and Paul Burton have been assistant referees in the Premiership and Europe. In 2011 Jane Pizii became the first female recipient of the trophy as recognition of continued progress as a referee, being the senior female referee in the Services and being an official at the 2010 Women’s World Cup.