After five seasons as Chairman of Kent Women & Girls’ Rugby, Graham Withers has confirmed his decision to stand down at the end of the upcoming 2024/25 season.
“I have thoroughly enjoyed my five years at the helm of the female game in the county, even if it included the dark days of Covid during my first season. We have built a best-in-class competition framework, a players pathway offering higher-echelon rugby for a record number of our girls and a robust management committee helping to create a framework for the Girls club game in Kent which has now been adopted by England Rugby as a blueprint for growth across the country. There will be plenty of time for further reflection, but now is the time to look forward”.
The 2024/25 season is an immensely exciting one for the Women & Girls’ game nationwide given that it builds towards the Rugby World Cup next Auguust and September, something that has been reflected by the Kent Rugby Executive Committee’s decision to co-opt the female game onto its main board for the next 12 months. Consequently, Graham sees this as an opportune moment to give the Women & Girls Committee new leadership and impetus, and following an independent interview process the County is delighted to announce the appointment of Amanda Johnston to the role of Vice Chair for 24/25 and Chair Elect moving forward.
Amanda is a very well-known personality on the county’s female rugby circuit, both as the current Under 18s Officer on the W&G Executive and as a key member of Ashford’s Girls section. She writes:-
“As a kid, I spent most of my Saturdays at Medway and Gravesend Rugby Club watching my Dad play. There were no girls teams then; and as a shy child I was not comfortable playing with the boys. My first opportunity to play came when I studied Engineering at University. It was very much a social side but was the start of my passion for the female game.
After Uni I spent 15 years in the USA. When in 2014 my husband and I returned, it was important for our family to integrate into our new home town of Ashford, so we immediately signed our two daughters up to the Ashford Rugby Club Minis. They both loved playing, but when our eldest reached the juniors, the girls section had diminished. With the support of the Club and some fantastic volunteers we began reinvigorating the section, spending many hours growing the section, working through the challenges, recruiting, promoting and guiding players through their rugby journeys, on and off the pitch. I have experienced many roles from Coach, Parent, a Safe Guarding Officer, First Aider, and of course Ex-player. I love every minute of it and I am very proud to be part of one of the best County Rugby Sections in the Country.
I am very excited to have this opportunity. Kent Women & Girls are in a fantastic position as one of the largest sections in the Country. We have a brilliant county of players (at Club, County and SE England level), an enthusiastic group of Club volunteers supporting players, and an excited Committee keen to celebrate what we have. I’m looking forward to celebrate what we have and expanding it even further.”
Graham and Amanda will be working very closely together through the 2024/25 season to ensure a smooth transition and Kent Rugby wishes her well in her new role.
For further information please contact Graham Withers at women-girls-rugby@kent-rugby.org
