As part of Ulster Rugby's Volunteers' Week (01-12 June 2016) celebrations we will be showcasing some of our outstanding rugby volunteers and highlighting the great work that is carried out by rugby volunteers across Ulster.

One of these such individuals is the current Head Coach of Cooke Women’s RFC, Grace Davitt.

As a player, Grace enjoyed a very successful career which saw her win over 50 caps for Ireland and appear in three World Cup campaigns. Grace was also an integral part of the 2013 Six Nations Grand Slam winning team, which propelled women’s rugby into the spotlight in Ireland.

Following her retirement from international rugby, Grace took on the role of Head Coach at Cooke Women’s RFC in September 2015 and has also worked tirelessly to develop girls rugby within the club. In addition to coaching three nights per week and travelling with the team at weekends to compete in the All-Ireland Division 1 league, Grace can also regularly be found organising additional pitch and gym sessions for the individual development of her players or visiting the local school to help promote girls rugby.

An incredibly dedicated coach with an infectious enthusiasm, Grace always goes above and beyond the call of duty, providing players with individual feedback and always seeking to share additional educational resources and information.

On top of her coaching duties which average around 15-20 hours per week, Grace is also responsible for the electronic registration of all members and is also actively involved in the administration of the club’s social media promotional activity.

While Grace always strives for excellence both from herself and those around her, she is a very friendly and approachable person who ensures that her training sessions are effective, enjoyable and always in line with the overall club ethos. This has resulted in increased numbers at training sessions and also the development of an U18 team who train along with the senior squad and have displayed a marked improvement in rugby skills and knowledge.

From her own playing career to her new coaching role, Grace is quick to acknowledge the role of the volunteer and the enjoyment she now gets from imparting her experience on others:

“I loved playing rugby for all those years and the success I enjoyed wouldn’t have been possible if it wasn’t for the many volunteers who were there to support me. I feel it is my duty to put something back into the game by passing on my knowledge and experience so that others can enjoy rugby. I didn't realise I would get such a buzz out of volunteering but seeing the players improve every week and go on to win big games gives me an incredible feeling of satisfaction.”

In recognition for her services to volunteering, Grace was selected as a finalist for the 2016 SONI Community Rugby Champions Award, bringing home a £500 bursary for her club.

If you would like to get involved in volunteering at your local club please contact Kerry Spence, Ulster Rugby Volunteer and Policy Development Officer on volunteer@ulsterrugby.com

Volunteer Focus: Grace Davitt (Cooke Women's RFC)

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