Spr Cameron McDonald (RE) is the first male rugby player to be named Army Sportsman of the Year.
The Young Sapper has enjoyed a sensational 12 months since becoming a Reservist, scoring a hat-trick in the Inter-Services clash with the Royal Navy and also helping the Engineers first win the Corps Championship for the first time in seven years before successfully defending it.
Spr McDonald also represented the Army at Sevens, and made his international debut for Germany both in that format and 15-a-side.
Reflecting on the honour, he said: “I am very proud to have won such a prestigious award, there are so many talented sportsmen in our Army, and it is a great honour to be the one chosen for this year’s award.
“I would like to thank the Army Rugby Union, Royal Engineers Rugby Union, UKAF Rugby and Rugby Deutschland for supporting myself and my ambitions. This is their reward just as much as it is mine”.”
While LCpl Jane Leonard (2009) and Capt Gemma Rowland (2015) have both been named Sportwoman of the Year, Cameron’s achievement is history-making with ARU Vice-Chair Col Gary McDade paying tribute to the winner.
He said: “This is a magnificent and well deserved achievement for Cameron. From seeing his brother play for the Red Shirts at Twickenham in 2022, he has come into the Army and enjoyed an extraordinary year.
“He is a wonderful example of what can be achieved in Army rugby and we are extremely proud of him.”
Words © Richard Ashton
All images – Alligin Photography © British Army Sport
