Ulster Rugby vs Munster

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23 ULSTERRUGBY
MEET ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS
JULIE ADAMS
NICKNAME: Jules
FAVOURITE FOOD: Steak and garlic potatoes
FAVOURITE ULSTER PLAYER? Tommy Bowe
IF YOU COULD PLAY FOR ULSTER WHAT
POSITION WOULD YOU PLAY?
I would be the team manager! Good at bossing
men about and getting them to do as they are told!
WHAT’S YOUR FAVOURITE SPORTING
MEMORY?
This is quite a personal one… watching my dad’s
cricket team win the cup two years after he had
meningitis and had all his toes amputated. It was
a proud moment seeing my dad get back playing
and then his team winning. He was 50 years old at
the time.
WHO WOULD YOU MOST LIKE TO BE
STUCK IN A LIFT WITH?
Jamie Dornan
WHO WOULD YOU LEAST LIKE TO BE
STUCK IN A LIFT WITH?
My son because I would have to be really brave for
his sake and I would secretly be panicking as it’s
definitely one of my worst fears.
TELL US AN INTERESTING FACT:
I played cricket for Ulster Girls Under 16 team and
we beat Leinster and Munster in the Inter Provincial
Finals. I still have my medal to prove it!
WHAT SORT OF VOLUNTEERING ARE YOU
INVOLVED IN?
I started volunteering with Ulster Rugby in late
2013 as a member of the Charity Action Team.
This involved working with the chosen charity at
match nights, doing bucket collections and other
fundraising activities.
The opportunity then arose to join the Ulster Rugby
Crew. As my son plays rugby and I attend all his
matches and training sessions I felt that joining the
Rugby Crew would benefit me in helping out at his
club when needed. Within this role I helped out at
a Summer Camp, assisting the coaches in setting
up and playing the games with the children. I also
helped out at the Wooden Spoon International Tag
Rugby Festival for people with disabilities and this
was a fantastic experience.
My more recent role and probably the one I enjoy
the most is the OUR Club Crew. This involves
helping out with the Junior Season Ticket holders
on match nights, advising them of the various
activities and helping them take part. It also
involves doing the Guard of Honour for the players
with the kids. It is very rewarding as the children
get really excited when they are around the players
and especially when they get to go on the pitch,
it’s great seeing their faces light up.
WHAT MADE YOU WANT TO BE A
VOLUNTEER?
I have been a big fan of Ulster Rugby since my
teens and would have attended a lot of matches
regularly, right up until I was eight months
pregnant! Then when my son was old enough
I got him into playing rugby and started getting
back to the matches. Now he plays for a club
(he’s nine years old) I go along to all his training
sessions and matches and I felt that volunteering
with Ulster Rugby was an opportunity for me to
learn more about the sport and the club and to
then hopefully be able to assist with my son’s
rugby team.
HAVE YOU HAD ANY PARTICULAR
HIGHLIGHTS WHILE VOLUNTEERING?
I have a few highlights. I thoroughly enjoyed
volunteering at the Ireland Training camp last
year. It was a great experience and as it was
mostly school children in attendance it was great
seeing their faces light up when their heroes came
over for an autograph and a photo. Obviously I
managed a few photos myself which made my
day!
I also helped at the Wooden Spoon International
Tag Rugby Festival for people with disabilities last
year for the whole weekend which was hard work
and tiring but also so rewarding. I helped pack the
goody bags, made the packed lunches, served
the meals for the players and in general just made
sure everyone was okay and enjoying themselves.
It was a miserable weekend with lashing rain but
what made the weekend was seeing the boys and
girls having the time of their life playing rugby at
Kingspan Stadium regardless of the weather. They
never complained, they played their hearts out
and then of course enjoyed the disco at the end.
WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF BEING A
VOLUNTEER?
I find volunteering for Ulster Rugby very rewarding
and enjoyable. I feel so proud to be able to help all
these people with whatever I happen to be doing
and it boosts your confidence when you are given
an element of responsibility especially with OUR
Club. As I spend most events chatting to people
it definitely would bring you out of your shell if you
were ever shy!
It’s a great opportunity to meet lots of different
people from different backgrounds, it’s great
fun and you always get a laugh. I have met new
friends who I meet and chat to outside of Ulster
Rugby and all the staff are always very kind and
pleasant towards us.
Interested in volunteering? email
r details.
MEET ONE OF OUR VOLUNTEERS