Search Engage

Proposed by: Gabby Hrymajlo
Seconded by: Rosie Gibbins


Hey luuwrufcians! As a dyslexic ADHD girly, I fear I don’t do well when reading long bodies of text so thought I’d also save you all the trouble of having to do that. I also believe that as Exec, the club’s future and how we progress together should be paramount. Because of this, I decided that for my manifesto I’d like to lay out some of the goals I would aim to achieve next year in regard to the club. I will go into more depth on my experience and why I would be a good candidate for VC in my speech, however if you have any questions please message me!

Firstly, I would like to continue to push LUUWRUFC in the direction of becoming not only an inclusive society, but one that advocates for all. This club is great at supporting each other; however, I believe we can do more to support and advocate for others. I will push for LUUWRUFC to be a society whose members can be open with upsets or grievances and one that educates its members. I believe we have started those steps this year by the three peaks challenge, wearing particular clothing on some training days to spread awareness for certain initiatives or disabilities and having information posted on luuwrufcs Instagram stories about a variety of awareness months.
To expand on this, I would like to support the club in continuing this year’s charitable legacy and believe another three peaks, or a challenge similar in next year’s spring semester. I also believe that utilising our social medias in regards to spreading awareness is extremely important. I propose that we post on dates such as International Women’s Day, Autism Awareness Month, Mental Health Awareness Day etc. These posts would be done in a similar format to how the Alzheimer’s one was presented this year as I believe it was an extremely effective way to spread awareness and promote a charity, due to its personability and insight to some of our club members. As a member of exec, I will liase with club members and committee to assess which awareness days/months and charities we are most passionate about and aid in the promotion of the chosen ones. Finally, I would plan on organising talks throughout the year on topics such as diversity and inclusion and active bystander training. Many sporting clubs do this, especially those that elite levels as it is an effective way to keep athletes aware of how their actions can affect others. We are such a large and passionate club so I believe we should replicate this and aim to educate our members on social issues and therefore utilise our club’s passion towards active support for change. I think LUUWRUFC is extremely good in being a safe space for most people however I believe we can do more in becoming active allies to more groups.

Secondly, I’d like to focus on maintaining our large intake of freshers from the get-go. For the past 3 years our fresher intake has been so strong, and I’d really like to capitalise on this and strive to gain and maintain such large numbers. We are such a brilliant club however some members become inactive towards the middle and end of each year, I’d like to maintain numbers by supporting coordinators in organising friendlies for teams with few matches in the second semester and aid welfare secretaries in the planning and execution of sober socials in order to create tighter bonds between the clubs’ members.
Additionally, I believe that the cost of kit is such a huge barrier to people who are interested in starting new or continuing sports. I would like to combat this barrier by forming a kit donation box for any kit that existing members have grown out of or don’t use anymore and then redistributing this kit to new members who haven’t got as much at the start of each semester. I believe Rachel and Kate started this idea at the start of this year, but it didn’t gain much traction, I would push this idea further and belive if we all came together we could get a sizable donations pile. Additionally, I would like to plan a way to offer new players access to free gumshields, specifically the development team, as I believe all players should be offered accessible ways of getting kit, especially at the start of their rugby journey where a lot of kit is needed. I believe these two initiatives will help remove one of the barriers that people are faced when joining a new sport or even staying in an old sport, which is the sheer cost of equipment. By continuing a packed calendar in the second semester and opening up accessible ways to get kit, I hope that LUUWRUFC will keep more members in the second semester to finish the year off with even more people attending varsity and end of season.

Finally, one of my main goals is to help put club members through training courses for coaching and refereeing. It is evident that there is a gender gap with all sports but particularly those that are deemed more ‘masculine’, such as rugby. This is something I am passionate about reducing and am currently writing my dissertation on it; during my research I have found studies that have shown that gender representation in sport and the logistical positions increases overall female participation within that sport. For example, since the lioness’s success there has been a 1.5% increase in female participation levels in football (2024). However, it is said that there is a ‘structural lack of opportunities’ within sports and women have a harder time accessing opportunities to sport officials. This is a global issue; however, I believe LUUWRUFC can do its part in changing this systemic issue bottom up by offering our members opportunities to train as coaches or referees. I believe we should be the change we want to see, and we have so many passionate members that would make brilliant coaches and match officials. We have seen how much of a difference having our members also coach can make, so why not expand on those successes.

I hope by reading just a few of my goals for next year you can see how passionate I am about the growth of LUUWRUFC and would love if you’d consider me as your next Vice Club Captain :)

(if anybody can’t make it to the agm and would like a copy of my speech, as it focuses on additional aspects of the role - feel free to message me)

Position: Vice Club Captain
Proposed: Edie Wright
Seconded: Lauren Ryland

Hello LUUWRUFC, I’m Daisy, and I am campaigning to be your new Vice Club Captain for the 2025/26 season.

Being part of LUUWRUFC has been the absolute highlight of my university experience so far. My role as Sponsorship Secretary this year has allowed me to aid the development and growth of this amazing club. I would like to expand and advance LUUWRUFC further, therefore, I am campaigning to be your next Vice Club Captain.

Vice Club Captain is a position I believe I am well suited for; having played rugby for eleven years, I have a very good understanding of the sport and its impact, especially within the female community. I have been lucky enough to be involved in my home club's committee discussions, advocating for the women’s team and their expansion. I was also selected to be the on-pitch vice-captain for Chesire U18s, which enhanced my leadership skills. I am a passionate and hardworking member of LUUWRUFC, committed to making this club thrive and ensuring that every member feels valued and supported. I will bring a positive and hardworking attitude to the executive committee and provide support to my fellow Club Captain and Treasurer.

Through my experience as one of the Sponsorship Secretaries this year, I have gained a firm understanding of how much time and effort a role like this requires, and gained valuable experience and skills needed to take on the role of Vice Club Captain, from emailing and arranging meetings to liaising external relationships. The skills gained from organising and running events such as the Three Peaks Challenge are invaluable for a Vice Club Captain as it encompasses all the same skills including organisation, communication, and consistent support for all those involved. I will ensure all responsibilities are managed, such as booking referees or coaches for each team, supporting others committee members with their responsibilities, and ensuring all members feel welcome and included.

A highlight from this year was organising and running major events, including our charity social and Yorkshire Three Peaks challenge where we raised over £3000 for charity, an amazing performance. The Three Peaks was an exciting challenge for all those involved and shows what a great community LUUWURFC is, being able to raise such an amazing amount for a wonderful charity is such a great achievement for the club. Being nominated for best charity fundraiser in the Riley Awards shows what a great accomplishment this was. For this reason, I want to continue to push our charitable efforts next year, raise even more money, and support some incredible causes.

As the Vice Club Captain, there are some key areas which I am keen to improve and explore. These are aims for all aspects of the club, and I hope they would positively impact LUUWRUFC and keep it the amazing club we all know it to be.

The first area I wish to focus on is promoting inclusivity and diversity across the club. LUUWRUFC is a club where every member should feel valued, respected, and heard and I’m committed to continuing to build a culture that celebrates diversity in all its forms - whether that’s background, identity, or experiences. I want to ensure everyone feels they have a place on and off the pitch, with clear opportunities to grow, play, and contribute. I’ll continue to create open spaces for feedback, especially the weekly check-in forms, and support initiatives that promote equality and diversity within the club.

The next area I wish to focus on is the rugby aspect itself and all the surrounding areas. I’m passionate about creating an environment where we can all play our best rugby while staying safe, supported, and encouraged. I would like to encourage easier access and opportunity of the clubs facilities for all members regardless of the level at which they play at, ensuring that all members have the best experience possible. I’ll work to make sure we have high quality, respectful referees that aligns with our club values. Furthermore, I will ensure all teams have equal access to coaches to facilitate away fixtures. And most importantly, I’ll strive for a positive playing culture where we grow together as teammates.

One of LUUWRUFC’s greatest strengths is our connection to the wider community. I’ll advocate for continued, meaningful involvement in initiatives like the Three Peaks Challenge and the Societies Into Schools program, projects that represent our values beyond the pitch. I also believe everyone should be able to be part of this club, so I’ll push for more affordable and flexible membership options where possible, additionally provide support to those members on the plus program. Finally, I’ll help strengthen ties with external organisations including Revs and student socials, to keep our social side vibrant and inclusive.

I will also aim to prioritise clear communication across the club as transparency is essential for trust, by keeping all members up to date with the committee actions. In additional to these regular updates on all things LUUWURFC, I would like to provide support for all committee members in our monthly committee meetings, providing help and guidance to anyone who needs it. Just as importantly, I want every committee member to feel supported in their role, whether that’s through better collaboration, shared resources, or just being someone who listens and helps get things done. We’re strongest when we work together, and I’m committed to building a committee culture that reflects that.

LUUWRUFC is more than just a rugby club, it’s a community, a support system, and a place for all to enjoy. I’m incredibly proud to be part of it, and I’m ready to take on the responsibility of Vice Club Captain with dedication, and a genuine passion for everything LUUWRUFC. I want to make sure our club continues to thrive both on and off the pitch, ensuring “Good Hands” all round!

Thank you for reading and let’s make the 2025/26 season the best one yet!!!