WHEATLEY have described the news of their national award nomination as fantastic recognition for the club.

The newly-promoted Berks, Bucks & Oxon Premier side will be travelling to Twickenham on August 30 to find out if they have impressed the judges enough to scoop the prize.

Wheatley have made the six-team shortlist for rugby club of the year in the National Rugby Awards.

Player-coach Simon Chadbone says it came as a surprise, but makes the hard work of consistently fielding two teams, thanks to the efforts of chairman Peter Ramsdale and stalwart Richard Cosier, worthwhile.

He said: “It’s absolutely fantastic. It came out of the blue a bit.

“But it’s great for Wheatley in terms of where they have come from in the last few years, been in the doldrums for one reason or another, so to get back to a stage where we are being recognised is nice.

“The club has been through some hard times and it’s come out the other side of it and it’s looking to push forward now.”