JESSICA Berry has been nominated for the BMW Player of the Season award for the most promising talent in Weymouth’s junior section.

The youngster was selected by the club’s coaches and received a framed, personalised BMW certificate signed by England head coach Stuart Lancaster and Tim Abbott, managing director of BMW UK.

Berry has been a member of Weymouth Rugby Club since 2006, playing until last season as the only girl in successive boys’ teams.

This season she was delighted to be able to be a founding member of the newly-formed Under-15 Weymouth Girls side and with dispensation has trained and played with the team all season.

Although Berry is the youngest player on the team she has been both supportive and inspirational to her team-mates – most of whom were in their first season of rugby.

A club spokesman said: “Jessica always gives her best and her work-rate is phenomenal both during training and on the pitch.

“She is a team player who is liked and respected by her fellow players and often makes the breaks that allow the team to make gains. Her skills are more often than not noted by the opposition too.

“A fair sportswomen and with a good knowledge of the game she was selected by her team and coach and promoted to full time captain mid season, and has led by example and provided encouragement to her mostly older peers ever since.

“Earlier in the season, she was selected along with four other girls from Weymouth to play for the county. Since then, Jessica has become part of the England regional rugby set-up.

“Jessica is a pleasure to train and watch and has a great future in rugby.

“She is a credit to Weymouth Rugby Club and its drive to encourage girls’ and ladies’ rugby, and her team-mates are delighted that she has been recognised in this way.”

Berry narrowly pipped Troy Brocklebank to win the nomination.

Brocklebank is a successful member of the club’s under-14s and helped them win the D&W plate competition.

He also played for D&W Under-14s as well as taking part in school games at Bath RFC.