Sussex Rugby President, Bruce Hayter, presented Grace with a Certificate of Recognition on the morning of the Club's Summer Big Bash, acknowledging her outstanding contribution as a volunteer.

The presentation was a fitting way to begin a day that Grace had helped organise, with the Summer Big Bash proving a huge success and raising over £1,200 for the club.

Grace first joined the club in October 2023 at the age of 24, having never played rugby before. Unfortunately, her playing career was temporarily put on hold after she suffered a serious broken leg in only her third game. Rather than stepping away from the club during her rehabilitation, Grace offered to help with team administration while another volunteer was on maternity leave.

What started as sending a few emails quickly grew into an incredible commitment to the club.

Since then, Grace has taken on a wide range of volunteer roles, including Women's Team Manager, Fixtures Secretary and Administrator, as well as becoming the club's Women's and Girls' Lead. She has played a key role in supporting the growth of women's and girls' rugby, helping to launch the girls' section, organising women's Rugby World Cup watch parties and sweepstakes, and leading numerous rugby taster sessions with local Girlguiding groups, both at the club and at their meetings.

Away from the pitch, Grace has represented the club at RFU and Sussex Rugby seminars, supported community events including Scouts Day, taken part in volunteer days painting and improving the clubhouse, managed car parking at finals days and club events, and successfully secured grants for initiatives such as providing free sanitary products at the club.

Her passion for rugby extends beyond the club too, volunteering for two weeks at the Women's Rugby World Cup at the Amex Stadium.

Grace said: "The club will always hold a special place in my heart as it was the first place to welcome me into the rugby world and I'll always be grateful for that (I'm now studying for a PhD in the Sport Physiology of female rugby), it's allowed me to make some wonderful friends and has given me some fantastic opportunities such as meeting the England team, completing the RFU Inspire Leadership Praogramme and introducing rugby to the next generation of players."

Everyone at the club congratulates Grace on this well-deserved recognition. Volunteers like her are at the heart of everything we do, and this award reflects the incredible time, energy and enthusiasm she gives to making our club a welcoming and thriving place for everyone.

Could you be our next volunteer?

Whether you can spare a few hours at an event, help behind the scenes, support our teams, or get involved with fundraising or community activities, we'd love to hear from you. Volunteering is a fantastic way to meet new people, develop new skills, and make a real difference to the club.

If you'd like to get involved, please get in touch with the club, we're always looking for more volunteers to help us continue growing both on and off the pitch and have a number of roles vacant currently.