A WITNEY rugby coach has won a national award recognising his work in the community.

Jeremy Bristoe, head coach at Witney Wolves SEN (Special Educational Needs) RUFC, won the Premiership Rugby’s Community Champion Award.

It is given to a person who, through their commitment, delivers a significant social change or support in their community.

Mr Bristoe was nominated by Oxford-based London Welsh for his work with the Wolves, helping out young people with learning disabilities.

The 60-year-old was presented with his prize at the All Party Parliamentary Rugby Union Group Premiership Rugby Community Awards, which were held at the House of Commons.

Mr Bristoe said: “It was amazing and I feel very privileged to have won the award.

“It’s great to be recognised but more importantly the best recognition is the hope that this is the start of something for Special Education tag rugby to be spread across the Premiership community and greater rugby family.

The special needs team was started in 2008 after Mr Bristoe met his friend Ian Paul’s son, James, whose passion for rugby was restricted by Down’s Syndrome.

Mr Bristoe, who lives in Whelford, near Lechlade, was asked if he knew a coach who would be willing to set up a team in Witney, so he started arranging training sessions at Witney RFC.

The tag rugby team, which includes pupils from Springfield School in Witney, caters for boys and girls.

It has about 25 players aged between seven and 22, coached by Mr Bristoe and two volunteer assistants.

The team caters for a range of disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism and Down’s Syndrome.

Other junior age groups from the club regularly join in to help players understand each other’s abilities.

London Welsh provides a community liaison officer, who helps devise training sessions and organise events.

Operations manager Michael Davies said: “Jeremy’s ability to inspire and lead has positively affected the children in so many ways.”

Jeremy Collins, whose son Charlie, 14, plays for Witney Wolves, said: “There is a great camaraderie in the team and none of that would be possible without Jeremy.

“He takes the time to talk to parents to see how the kids are doing, he gauges their enthusiasm and disabilities and works out what they need to get out of training sessions.”

Mr Bristoe said: “I am very grateful for London Welsh’s support – it drives me and the team at Witney Wolves on further.

“The best we hope for is this extra publicity and recognition will help show others that rugby is such a great sport and this is a huge opportunity to take children who arrive with a ‘can’t do’ image of themselves and turn that into a ‘can do’ attitude for the rest of their lives.”