Jess Anderson
BBC Sport netball reporter

Under head coach Jess Thirlby expectations were high for England’s Roses, who bid to retain the Commonwealth gold title they won four years ago in Australia on home soil this summer in Birmingham.

But, what followed was a disappointing campaign where England lost out to Australia in the semi-final then could not reenergise themselves to beat New Zealand and take the bronze medal.

In a year where England captain Serena Guthrie announced her retirement from the sport after her pregnancy, Australia reasserted their dominance, beating England to the Quad Series in January before winning gold in Birmingham.

With a World Cup in South Africa on the horizon in 2023, Thirlby will be looking to move on from a tough year.

Image source, Getty Images

You have just a few minutes left to vote for your Sports Personality of the Year.

You can do that online at www.bbc.co.uk/spoty, by telephone or by scanning our new QR code which will take you directly to the vote page.

The landline number you need to call is 09015 22 82 followed by the number of your winner as shown below. If you're using a mobilecall 6 22 82plus the number of your winner:

• 01 - Jessica Gadirova
• 02 - Beth Mead
• 03 - Eve Muirhead
• 04 - Ronnie O'Sullivan
• 05 - Ben Stokes
• 06 - Jake Wightman

Take a bow, Kevin Sinfield.

Rob Burrow's former Leeds Rhinos team-mate has raised more than £7m for charity since his close friend's diagnosis in 2019. A simply staggering amount.

Having already undertaken a series of fundraising challenges while championing MND research, in November the 42-year-old ran seven ultra marathons in seven days, covering 300 miles (482km) from Edinburgh to Manchester, via Melrose, Newcastle, York, Leeds and Bradford.

He smashed through his target of £777,777 - a nod to the number seven shirt worn by Burrow - and received a hero's welcome as he completed the challenge at Old Trafford during half-time in the Rugby League World Cup final.

And now his efforts are recognised with a special BBC Sports Personality award.

Of course, there is someone else who has played a huge part in Rob Burrow's story.

Former Leeds Rhinos, England and Great Britain star Rob Burrow was diagnosed with motor neurone disease in 2019 - two years after retiring from a glittering 17-year career.

Burrow, 40, spent his entire club career with Leeds Rhinos, winning eight Grand Finals, three World Club Challenges and two Challenge Cups as he made over 400 appearances between 2001 and 2017.

One of the most successful rugby league players in the sport's history, Burrow was awarded an MBE in 2021 for his services to Rugby League and for his work in the Motor Neurone community.

A true inspiration, he receives the 2022 Helen Rollason Award for his relentless fundraising and determination to raise awareness of MND while battling the illness himself.

The 2022 Helen Rollason Award goes to Rugby league legend Rob Burrow.

BBC One

England Wheelchair rugby star Tom Halliwell speaking to BBC One: "Looking back at that I'm going to start crying again. It's been five years of hard work for this group. We've worked hard and this is what you get when you work hard."

Seb Bechara: “Its’ been amazing. The support has been amazing. This sport is incredible but it has often been off the radar and it has finally been put on the map.

“Thousands of fans screaming our names, it was brilliant.

“I want to see it expand and grow across the UK and the globe. It’s already been happening, new clubs are opening."

Our next award is the Helen Rollason Award, which recognises outstanding achievement in the face of adversity.

It was first introduced to the show in 1999 in memory of the BBC Sport journalist and presenter, who died of cancer that year at the age of 43.

Matt: One of the best moments was seeing a spectacular Men's Rugby League World Cup and as a neutral supporter, made me proud to watch also the Women's Rugby League World Cup as well as the Wheelchair Rugby matches too. All involved did a super job and I loved every minute

Elizabeth Hudson
BBC Sport disability sport reporter

Image source, Getty Images

Brilliant ball-handling skills, crunching tackles, metal-on-metal crashes, record crowds and a famous England World Cup win – 2022 was the year when the public fell in love with wheelchair rugby league.

For the first time, the wheelchair competition was part of the tournament main event and having lost narrowly to France in the last two World Cup finals, England seized the opportunity to shine on the sport’s biggest-ever stage against their Gallic rivals in front of over 4,500 fans in Manchester.

The final was a typically tense and tight affair with Jack Brown using his experience to devastating effect and combining with the likes of Halliwell and Golden Boot winner Seb Bechara.

But captain Tom Halliwell’s late try sealed a memorable 28-24 win for Tom Coyd’s side to spark wild celebrations and signal what is just the first part of the sport’s journey.

Alistair Watkins
BBC Sport rugby league reporter

After five weeks and 61 matches across three tournaments, the Rugby League World Cup reached its conclusion in November with Australia completing a men’s and women’s trophy double at Old Trafford.

England men’s hopes of home glory were crushed by Samoa in the semi-finals, while the women’s team were knocked out by New Zealand at the same stage.

However, England secured a dramatic victory over France to win a Wheelchair World Cup that thrilled both crowds and TV audiences.

Domestically, St Helens won a record-breaking fourth consecutive Super League Grand Final, while Leeds won the women’s Grand Final.

Wigan Warriors stunned Huddersfield Giants with a late try to win the men’s Challenge Cup for a record-extending 20th time and St Helens retained the women’s trophy.

Olivia: It’s been an amazing year of sport. Re-living it all tonight is pretty emotional! There has been setbacks turned into comebacks from individuals and teams. And our nation has been brought together so many times.

You still have time to cast your vote for Sports Personality of the Year, but hurry!

You can vote online at www.bbc.co.uk/spoty, by telephone or by scanning our new QR code which will take you directly to the vote page.

In order to cast your vote online, you must sign in to your BBC account. If you do not have an account, you will need to register before you can vote. Head over here if you still need to do that.

The landline number you need to call is 09015 22 82 followed by the number of your winner as shown below. If you're using a mobile, call 6 22 82 plus the number of your winner:

• 01 - Jessica Gadirova
• 02 - Beth Mead
• 03 - Eve Muirhead
• 04 - Ronnie O'Sullivan
• 05 - Ben Stokes
• 06 - Jake Wightman

Coral Barry
BBC Sport boxing reporter

Image source, Getty Images

This year has seen an explosion in boxing, as the female code has taken centre stage like never before. Liverpool’s Natasha Jonas won three world titles in the space of nine months, Northampton’s Chantelle Cameron became England’s first undisputed world champion in the four-belt era, Katie Taylor v Amanda Serrano in New York and Claressa Shields v Savannah Marshall in London produced two of the biggest and most historic nights of boxing.

Heavyweights also had a remarkable year as WBC champion Tyson Fury sold out Wembley against fellow Briton Dillian Whyte, retired undefeated and then sold 59,000 tickets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the dead of winter.

It seems we may finally get an undisputed heavyweight showdown between Fury and unified Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk, who endured a turbulent year personally with war at home but excelled in the ring once again.

We’ve had last-gasp knockouts (see Leigh Wood v Michael Conlan), stunning comebacks (see Daniel Dubois v Kevin Lerena), thrilling upsets (see Dimitry Bivol v Canelo Alvarez) and new stars emerge like Adam Azim and Caroline Dubois. Just don’t ask me to pick my fighter of the year.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport golf reporter

Image source, Getty Images

In the women’s game, New Zealand’s Lydia Ko returned to the top of the world ranking for the first time since 2017, replacing American Nelly Korda who missed a chunk of the year after discovering a blood clot in her arm.

There were notable victories on the LPGA Tour for Ireland’s Leona Maguire, England’s Charley Hull and Jodi Ewart Shadoff, and Scotland’s Gemma Dryburgh.

They will hope to form the backbone of Europe’s Solheim Cup defence against the US in Spain next September.

The Ryder Cup takes place the following week in Italy with the men trying to avenge their record defeat by the US at Whistling Straits in 2021.

Peter Scrivener
BBC Sport golf reporter

Image source, Getty Images

An Englishman won the US Open, a Northern Irishman returned to the top of the world ranking and there were notable victories on the LPGA Tour for English, Scottish and Irish golfers.

Matt Fitzpatrick’s sensational nine-iron from a Brookline bunker on the final hole helped seal his first major title in America’s national championship.

Rory McIlroy ended another stellar year, which saw him win the PGA Tour’s FedEx Cup and the DP World Tour’s Race to Dubai, as the world number one. But the prize he coveted most, a fifth major, remained elusive. He had top-10 finishes in them all but will feel The Open Championship, celebrating its 150thstaging, was the one that got away.

Australia’s Cameron Smith wowed record crowds at St Andrews with a final-round charge that saw him race past McIlroy to claim the Claret Jug, before ending weeks of speculation by joining the controversial LIV Golf series.

Scottie Scheffler capped an incredible opening to 2022 by winning the Masters in April – his fourth tournament victory of the year in six starts – while fellow American Justin Thomas took the US PGA Championship.

BBC One

And here's Unsung Hero winner Mike Alden speaking to BBC One: "Wow. I think everyone should be included in everything.

"With our youth teams we've got kids as young as seven. You never know, one day one of them might be sat here.

"I didn't expect that."

BBC One

We'll hear from Mike Alden shortly.

Here's what Sports Personality of the Year contender Beth Mead had to say moments ago on BBC One: "It's not something I thought would be possible. The team were the ones who got me through, I wouldn't have played the football I did in the tournament without them.

"The girls are like a family away from home. When things weren't great at home, they supported me so well. They were my family away from home.

"I'm still pinching myself. I think I still need time to reflect. I'm so grateful and proud of what I've done and what my team has done. I found that I played my best football this season by playing for the six-year-old that started. So I would just say enjoy every moment and don't forget the reason you're playing football."

Here's a bit more on the work Mike Alden does in his community. A very worthy winner indeed.

Huge congratulations to Mike Alden!

Football volunteer Mike was diagnosed with brittle bone disease at the age of four.

But that did not stop him playing football in his childhood - and it certainly has not prevented him encouraging others to play.

Ten years ago he set up Park Knowle Football Club, a club based in one of Bristol's most deprived areas which is open to players of all ages and ability, including five disability teams.

His wife, sons and daughter also volunteer at Park Knowle FC and they collectively give around 100 hours each week to the club.