Marc Birr, Director of Rugby

I started playing rugby at Syston RFC at the age 13 with a group of school friends. I progressed through to play for Syston Colts, Leicestershire Schools and Leicestershire Colts, also with a handful of first and second team games before joining the Royal Navy at 18. Within my naval career I played for Royal Navy Colts, U23s and made it into the full squad in 1993, before a bad ankle injury which kept me out of the game for 18 months. Never again quite regaining full fitness in the ankle. Also while in the Navy I played league Rugby for United Services Portsmouth RFC, Havant RFC, Devonport Services RFC, Plymouth Albion RFC, various ship and establishments I was based at or on.

I returned to Leicestershire after my naval career had finished, playing back at Syston RFC in the 2nd and 3rd team before helping Phil Smith set up the development team which was very successful, before retiring due to the loss of my left eye.

By then coaching had become a big part of my rugby life. I had taken my first coaching award in the Navy in 1996 ( Intermediate ), before a chance meeting at Vipers RFC with an old Syston player while watching a family friend’s son play, he asked if I fancied coming down to training and helping out. I had been bitten by the coaching bug, really enjoying helping players develop not just as rugby players but as young men. I am still in contact with a great number of that team. Raising to 1st XV Head Coach at Vipers RFC for two seasons before having to step down due to ill health, returning to the game at Leicester Forest RFC as the Director of Rugby. Setting up a Colts and girls section at the club, improving the coaching within the youth section while coaching the 1st XV. I spent 4 seasons at Leicester Forest RFC. I then took a role as Ratcliffe College 1st Head Coach which I am enjoying immensely to this day and also had a brief spell at De Montfort University.

I now have the incredible honour of being Leicestershire Rugby Union Director of Rugby. Where again I have risen through the ranks, with coaching roles with the U16s, U17s, U18s boys, the U20s, Barbarians and the ladies. My ambition is to shape representative rugby for the modern game and to help develop the game at all levels and all abilities, both as players and coaches.

I look forward to getting round to all the clubs within Leicestershire and meeting many of you who do a fantastic job within the game.

Helen Wrighten, Volunteer Co-Ordinator and Safeguarding Manager

I started my rugby journey pitch side watching my son play at under 8s.  My first voluntary role was Team Manager when they reached under 13s.  I was then hooked and joined the M& J Committee followed by senior committee when I looked after events and sponsorship.  I volunteered pre the Rugby World Cup in 2015 with the process of interviewing and training the volunteers, this then lead to the opportunity to a paid job and I was Team Leader for the Leicester and Villa Park games a fantastic experience that will be with me for the rest of my life.  I attended the Leadership Academy Course and was approached to be Volunteer Co-ordinator for LRU then alongside that role I became Safeguarding Manager.  At the end of last year I took on the paid role of administrator.  My work background is mainly administration and events in many varieties. Alongside rugby I am also a newly appointed Ambassador for Hope Against Cancer a Charity close to my heart.

Gail Bates, Press and Publicity Officer and Chair of the Operating Committee

My journey into rugby began when my children started playing at Leicester Lions RFC in 2011. We joined the club at a time of  re-building its Mini/Junior section and before I knew it, I was MJ Chair at the club. I had recently stepped down as PTA Chair at my children’s school, so didn’t  take much persuading to take on something new and challenging. We grew the section from around 20 children to 100. I stepped down from the role in 2015 when my two sons decided they no longer wanted to play, but I had caught the rugby bug and wasn’t ready to give up something I had grown to love. I approached the CB and asked if there was anything they needed help with. I was offered the opportunity to take up the Press and Publicity role, which suits my skill set very well. I now sit on the Executive Committee and have recently taken on the role of Operating Committee Chair. I have also been lucky enough to participate in the Leadership in Union course in 2018/19 alongside other candidates from across the country.
I love doing what I do and being involved with all the clubs across the county and shouting about all the great things happening in Leicestershire. I can honestly say that rugby has become such an important part of my life, that I will always be involved in some way or another. Outside of rugby, my paid job is within the entertainment and events industry and I enjoy keeping fit with my newest penchant for muddy obstacle running! I have also recently dusted off my paints and re-ignited my enjoyment of painting.

Liz Causon, AGR Chair

As a rugby mum for the last 8 years and a keen organiser and leader of volunteers, as chair of my village carnival and school PTA, my skills set was recognised last year when I was elected as Kids First and Junior Chair at Hinckley RFC. To help me in the role I signed up for the RFU Leadership Academy where I have worked with like minded individuals from across Leicestershire and the East Midlands to understand the inner workings of a rugby club. On graduation from the academy I was approached by the outgoing AGR Chair to take on this role which I gladly accepted. My day job as a physical activity development officer means that I understand all too well the challenges of engaging people in physical activity of any sort. I strongly believe the core vales of the RFU are a solid foundation to ensure that every child in Leicestershire playing rugby has a fun and enjoyable experience of the sport which I hope to see them taking into their adult years. I am looking forward to seeing across the county how our volunteer workforce of coaches, managers, first aiders, referees and other back room staff make this happen.