Staff Profile: Chris Shields

Get to know the people behind Ulster Rugby. This week it's the turn of Rugby Projects Manager, Chris Shields... Describe your role within Ulster Rugby?  As Rugby Project Manager, I work within the Rugby Development Department. My focus is mainly on ‘off-field’ activities, with revenue generation, coach education, player welfare, facility development and broadly exploring new opportunities for business both within and outside the rugby community. Describe your career / employment history?  I have been with Ulster Rugby for 11 years and have held three different roles; Strength and Conditioning Coach (Academy), Fitness Education Manager and currently Rugby Projects Manager. I am a University of Ulster Graduate, after which I spent five years studying and working in Canada as an Athletic Therapist. On returning home, I set up my own business before moving into the IRFU Fitness Department in 2007. Favourite thing about your job?  Every day brings new challenges and with that an abundance of new opportunities to add real value to our wider rugby community. What do you enjoy most about working for Ulster Rugby? In my early years with Ulster Rugby I got real a buzz from seeing a young lad who I worked with go on to get his first Ulster or Irish Cap. More recently I enjoy working with clubs and schools on large scale facility development projects (i.e. gym renovations) and seeing these move off the page and into fruition. What is your biggest achievement to date?  I was the Strength and Conditioning coach with the Irish Schools Side who won the European FIRA/AER Championship in France (2011). Many of those players have gone on to gain full international honors – Robbie Henshaw, Dan Leavy, Luke McGrath, Chris Farrell to name but a few. What is the most challenging aspect of your role? We run 31 rugby camps annually across the Province involving 1500+ participants and 60+ staff. To ensure inclusivity we offer Junior Camps, Schools of Excellence, Disability Rugby Camps and a new Digital Skills Camp which has proven especially popular. With the sheer volume of activity and demand, the logistics can sometimes be challenging, but we’re not complaining. What are your plans/goals for the upcoming season? I will continue to explore new ways of connecting the wider community to rugby. There are numerous top quality, underutilised local rugby facilities in the Province, and encouraging clubs to diversify by offering health and wellbeing type initiatives should provide a sustainable model moving forward. Who is your favourite Ulster player? Chris Henry – he has always given 100% for club, Province and country. A true Malone RFC man through and through.