We spoke to several volunteers from various Rugby clubs across Ulster to learn more about their roles.
Jana McQuillan, Malone RFC, Ulster Rugby YPAG, 19 years old
I am a physiotherapy student. Growing up I participated in a variety of sports such as hockey, swimming and I've competed in athletics competitions. I have been playing Rugby since I was 12 years old and have represented Ulster rugby at age grade level. Currently, I am in rehab after a torn ACL but I cannot wait to get back to rugby.
I started volunteering within rugby as it is the sport that I love and I wanted to do more things to get involved with it. Firstly, I got my level two coaching badge and coached the girls give it a try sessions at my previous club. Now, for the past two years I have been part of Ulster Rugby’s Young persons advisory group. The group meets a minimum of four times a year as well as the opportunity to meet each other when doing fun events or within the multi-sport forum. Through my volunteering on the YPAG I have had the opportunity to gain an OCN Young Leadership qualification, gained a sports inspire award, participated in multisport forum with individuals from GAA and IFA as well being able to give my input on new initiatives Ulster Rugby are presenting to improve youth rugby. I have made lots of friends and have learnt interpersonal skills that I can now use in other aspects of my life outside of rugby.
Volunteering has impacted my rugby life as it has given me a new appreciation for all the hard work and dedication other volunteers within the rugby community put in. it has been incredibly insightful to see what goes on behind the scenes in age-grade rugby to ensure that programmes and initiatives put out by ulster rugby are the best they can be and they take into account what us as young people have to say.
I would tell other young people that want to get involved with volunteering to just do it. For me it has been incredibly rewarding, it has given me countless opportunities to personally develop, and you can have the best fun with new friends you meet through your volunteering. You don't need to play rugby to have an appreciation for the sport and volunteering is a great way to be involved with your local clubs with a sport you enjoy.
Jasmine Parks – Volunteer Co Ordinator & Coach
I was not and still wouldn’t say I’m sporty, so to be asked would I like to volunteer with a new tag rugby group for young people with learning disabilities, was a shock. I said yes because I love working with children/young people and wanted any opportunity to expand my knowledge of learning disabilities in different environments. The reason I have been volunteering with Portadown Panthers for almost 10 years is because I love getting to know the children/young people, it’s very rewarding seeing each player progress weekly and yearly, I really enjoy playing a small part in the players week.
When I first started in 2013 my role was trainee coach as I didn’t have a clue about tag rugby. Now I help coach, I’m the volunteer coordinator and social media manager. Coaching for me involves working mainly one to one with the younger/new players reinforcing what they have to do during the drill or game, helping them to understand, ensuring their safety and encouraging joining in at their own pace.
Being volunteer coordinator I inform the other volunteers about upcoming training courses available, enrol them for the Sports Inspire Awards and sign off on their competed hours and help new volunteers settle in to the Panther family.
As social media manager I create the social media posts for the page. I also take photos and create videos to share on social media also.
I have been volunteering for 9 years!
I have gotten so much out of volunteering; I have grown in so much confidence both with my rugby knowledge and belief in myself that I can coach small groups of young players. My knowledge and understanding of a range of learning disabilities has broadened. I love being part of the Portadown Panthers team.
I really recommend volunteering with a club, it’s a great way to make friends and make a small difference in children / young peoples lives.
Gareth Hammond, Holywood Rugby Club, 1st XV Team Manager, Referee Liaison Officer, 31 years old
I live in Bangor, married just under a year, with a Golden Retriever named Dave. Spend my weekends either watching, playing or refereeing rugby games. I’m a transport manager based in Armagh with a local family company specialised in tautliner and refrigerated transport.
I got involved with refereeing after attending an RLO meeting in the Kingspan when Richard Kerr stated that more referees are needed due to number of games held on Saturdays and the society is under pressure trying to fulfil all fixtures.
With my playing days coming to an end due to consistent injuries, I thought this would be a great way to stay involved with the game and to keep my fitness up.
I started my rugby “career” at Banbridge RFC when I was 11 years old, as most people do, I started on the wing / full back and as I got older (slower) I progressed into the pack with finishing my playing days in the back row at 6 or 7. I then moved down to Holywood when I was 27 years old to finish off my injury prone playing days.
I've now been volunteering as a referee for approximately 2 months. This role doesn’t take up much extra time, I’m quite lucky as all the workshops and meetings occur at the Kingspan which means I can stop on my way home from work, adding nothing more than 1 hour onto my day which isn't much at all.
I decided to become a referee for fitness purposes mainly and to stay up to update with rugby's changing laws and trial laws. It also has a feel-good factor knowing that you can provide a service that helps men and women of all ages get a game of rugby on a Saturday or Sunday as I have been in a position, as a player, where we couldn’t play due to a referee not being available.
People management would be a massive skill I have learnt through this role. As a player, you only have one thing to concentrate on, your role. But as a referee, you have 30 different personalities and roles to contend with, not including the coaches and parents, so being able to control these 30 people is a great help.
I've learnt to see the game of Rugby through a referee's eyes, when you’re a player it's easy to disagree and shout at the ref but this has helped me realise that referees are doing their utmost to ensure you get a good game of rugby. I've also managed to stop shouting at the TV so much during games!
Volunteering has also given me the opportunity to obtain tickets for the World Cup warm up games in August in the Aviva!
Anyone can get involved, there are plenty of volunteer opportunities for you to get into the sport of rugby. If you don’t want to referee or play, get down to your local club and volunteer for match days, club house duties, team management. It's well worth it in the end and you will gain a lifetime friendship circle.
I've enjoyed the past couple of months and meeting all new people from different aspects of the game has really been an enjoyable experience.
Caitlin Fisher, Cooke, Referee, age 23.
I'm a final year medical student who has great love of all sport but especially rugby as grew up as part of a large rugby -oving family who always have watched rugby and would go to see Ulster play.
I saw an advertisement online about becoming a referee, and I always enjoyed referring from the sofa and wanted to give back to the game with slightly different challenge to playing and thought I would be good at it.
I played mini rugby in primary school for Cooke minis then stopped when moving to secondary school as, unlike now, there weren’t as many opportunities for females to play rugby as teenagers. I then restarted playing when I was in upper sixth which was 5 years ago, and have played since then for Cooke women.
I usually referee one game a week which usually takes a few hours usually on a Saturday but there are occasionally week day games if that works better. There are also monthly meetings which are not mandatory but I enjoy them as there is a great discussion about rugby. In addition to this I would train a few times a week with my coach or my rugby team.
I have gained confidence and a new level of understanding of the rules of rugby, and have met lots of new people who share my love of rugby I have also been invited to several “Women in Rugby events” and even got a retweet from Nigel Owens!
Volunteering has widened my social network, given me more confidence, challenged me in a slightly different way keeping my mind busy and made me fall even deeper in love with the sport.
It is a great way to get involved with the sport without the contact element involved in playing the game, you don’t necessarily need to have played to get involved and there is a wide variety of levels you can referee at so you can find where you are happy.
I have enjoyed the whole experience but a few include refereeing the half time mini rugby games at the Kingspan and shadowing international referee Joy Neville during a developmental international game between Ireland and Wales at the Kingspan