Rugby Union · Most Improved
Rugby Union Most Improved Award
A rugby union most improved award recognises the player whose game moved furthest between September and April. In rugby that progress is often physical and technical at once: learning to scrummage safely, tackling with confidence, or reading a lineout call without looking at the hooker. Handled well, it is one of the most motivating awards on the night, and this page explains how to keep it that way.
A few ways to make it yours
The designer
Design yours
Upload your club crest, type up to four lines and see it on the glass.
Simple pricing
End of season award prices: £8.99 small · £13.99 large
Mix sizes and designs freely. One delivery charge per order.
Minimum 5 awards. Delivery £10.00 per order.
Rugby union end of season awards: where rugby players improve most
The biggest jumps tend to come at transition points. A colt stepping up to adult rugby has to adjust to heavier contact and a faster breakdown. A late starter who joined through a social or touch session might go from never having made a tackle to starting regularly in the 2nd XV.
Position changes count too. A back-rower converted to hooker, learning to throw in under pressure, or a centre moved to full-back, are common stories in community clubs that rarely have a full bench.
Returning players deserve a thought as well. Someone back after a long lay-off who rebuilt their fitness and earned a starting place again has often moved further than anyone in the squad, even if they were a good player before the injury.
How coaches make the call
Most improved is nearly always the coaches' decision rather than a vote. Think back to the first few weeks of the season and compare them with the last. Notes from selection meetings or video clips, if your club films games, help jog the memory.
Look for a player whose improvement changed what the team could do, not just someone who had a good last month. Make sure it never feels like a consolation prize. Talk about the specific progress when you present it so the winner knows exactly what was noticed.
Wording for juniors and seniors
For senior sides, MOST IMPROVED PLAYER on line one, then club name, player's name and team with season, such as 1st XV 2025/26, works well. Some clubs split it into MOST IMPROVED FORWARD and MOST IMPROVED BACK if the squad is large.
In age-grade rugby, coaches often give a most improved award in every group from under-12s upward. Put the age group on line four, for example U14 2025/26, so a parent can tell at a glance which season it came from.
Ordering across age groups
This award suits the Small square block at £8.99 each, as it sits alongside the other team-level honours. If your junior section gives one per age group, that alone can reach the minimum order of five.
Set up the design with your crest once, then paste in the list of winners and change line four for each age group. Every name is printed individually, sizes can be mixed with Large awards at £13.99, and delivery stays at a flat £10.00 per order.
Good to know
Questions
Can we order most improved awards for every junior age group together?
Yes. Design one award with your crest and title, then add each winner with the same crest, changing the age group line for each. The bulk option lets you paste in all the names at once, which saves time for a large junior section.
Should most improved go to a newer player?
Not necessarily. A long-serving player who has transformed one part of their game, such as goal-kicking or scrummaging, can be just as deserving. What matters is that the change was real and noticeable over the season.
Can we leave the player's name off and add it later?
Every line is optional, so you can order awards with just the crest and title. Bear in mind the text is printed, so nothing can be added afterwards. Most clubs wait until the coaches have decided and print the name.
When should we order for a May presentation?
Made in Cornwall and delivered within 7 days Coaches usually settle most improved in the last few weeks of the season, so ordering straight after that leaves a comfortable margin before a May presentation.
Keep exploring
Related awards
Club secretaries
Ordering for the whole club?
Finish one design, then reuse the same crest with a new name. Or paste a list of names and add every award in one go. Whatever the number of awards, there is one delivery charge per order.
Ordering for a club