The profile of Royal Navy and Royal Marines rugby league has been given another huge boost by the award of the Royal Marines Sportsman of the Year trophy to Sgt Chris Richards (UPTI CLR).

The award, known as the Bristowe Trophy, was presented to Chris at the RM Sports Association AGM to mark his outstanding achievements in Royal Navy and Royal Marines rugby league over the past season.

The award caps a massive season for Chris in the sport. Besides leading the Royal Navy rugby league team on the field during their successful tour of Australia, he coached the Royals team to a second consecutive victory in the 2002 Inter-Command competition.

The Royals left it late to clinch their second successive title, scoring the vital points in the final minutes of the final game against Fleet, topping Portsmouth Command by just a single point after an exciting tournament at HMS Dryad in the summer.

Chris is also a member of the civilian side Gloucester Warriors in the TotalRL.com Conference, and as a result of his performances throughout the season was selected to represent England in the amateur home international tournament.

The amateur authorities also recognised Chris’s contribution over the season by awarding him the Conference Player of the Year award at the end of the 2002 season.

The Bristowe Trophy is named after Col F.H. Bristowe, who inaugurated the award on his retirement from the Corps.