Some good news ahead of the big Women’s Six Nations match on Friday against Wales with Scottish Rugby’s Head of Girls’ and Women’s Rugby Gemma Fay being awarded a World Rugby executive leadership scholarship.
To mark International Women’s Day on Friday World Rugby has announced that it has renewed its commitment to driving inspirational leadership and fast tracking the development of women in rugby on and off the pitch through its successful programme.
Receiving more than 100 applications globally, this year the highly sought-after World Rugby executive leadership scholarships have been awarded to 14 women from different unions.
As part of this scholarship programme, Fay will be able to access funding to enable her to develop her leadership skills and work with this cohort of global colleagues for their development as a larger group.
Fay, the former football goalkeeper, said: “I am really excited to join this programme alongside some fantastic peers from across the world.
“The commitment that World Rugby is showing to women’s rugby with this leadership scholarship programme is fantastic. The increase to 14 after only 10 were awarded previously is sure to increase the promotion and development of women’s rugby on a global scale.
“The Global Development of Women in Rugby 2017-2025 strategy has so far seen great success both on and off the field, including a 28% increase in registered female players across the world.
“In Scotland, we also saw an increase in our female teams in 2017/2018. Scotland is very much following the trend that this programme is displaying and I am excited to be more heavily involved going forward.”
2019 World Rugby Executive Leadership Scholarship recipients
Cate Sexton (New Zealand): Head of Women’s Rugby Development at New Zealand Rugby
Vela Naucukidi (Fiji): Women’s Development Manager for Fiji Rugby Union, former President of the Fiji Women’s Rugby Union (2007-12) and current Secretary since 2013
Jane Schmitt (Australia):Director and board member of Queensland Rugby Union
Cybele Druma (Papua New Guinea): Former CEO of Papua New Guinea Rugby Football Union and President of the National Capital District Rugby Union
Gemma Fay (Scotland): Head of Girl’s and Women’s Rugby with Scottish Rugby
Katharina Kueß (Austria): Vice-President and head of women’s rugby in Austria, a player and coach
Annelies Acda (Nederland):Rugby Nederland Board member and Rugby Europe Women’s Rugby Committee member
Irina Arkhytska (Ukraine):Secretary General for Ukraine Rugby Union
Regina Lunyolo (Uganda): Chairperson of the Uganda Women’s Rugby Advisory Committee and committee member for the Gender Equality and Diversity commission of the Uganda Olympic Committee
Edvige Manga (Senegal): Deputy Secretary General of Senegal Rugby Union
María Fernanda Vázquez Villatoro (Mexico): Manager and Board member at Wallabies Rugby Football Club Mexico
Lauren Rothwell (Bermuda): Board Member and Public Relations Officer for Bermuda Rugby Union and national team player
Lettizia Alcaraz (Argentina): Women’s Rugby Development Manager of the Northeast Rugby Union and former international player
Soledad Galleguillos (Chile): Development Manager of Women’s Rugby and former international player for Chile, coach and educator
Scotland v Wales in the Women’s Six Nations takes place at Scotstoun on Friday (7.35pm kick-off, live on BBC ALBA)
Thanks to Scottish Rugby/SNS for the photo of Gemma Fay
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