Caroline Morgan has been P/A to the men’s national squad and management for more than 21 years and will be participating in her 300th match when Wales play Italy on 16th March. Chloe Montgomery is a soft tissue therapist and has worked for the WRU for almost a year. Verity Williams is the men’s national squad communications manager and joined the WRU in January 2022.
How has your experience of working in a largely male-dominated environment been?
Caroline: I have never thought of it as me being the only woman – I have always been treated with the same respect as everyone else and wouldn’t like to be treated any differently. When I joined I was the only female. Now, it’s very different. It’s been great to see that change.
Chloe: Initially, working in a predominantly male environment was intimidating. However, I’ve found that building confidence in my abilities and networking have been crucial. Kindness and professionalism go a long way in establishing relationships and earning respect.
Verity: I don’t think of it as being male-dominated so much, we’re all part of the same team and working towards the same goals. The people really do make it a great place to work.
What advice would you offer to young women aspiring to work in rugby/sport?
Caroline: Follow your dream – believe in yourself
Chloe: Focus on networking and kindness. Building professional relationships and connections can open doors to opportunities. Additionally, having confidence in your abilities and maintaining a positive attitude are essential for success in any field.
Verity: Believe in yourself, get as much experience as possible and if you see an opportunity go for it.
How do you deal with sometimes being the only woman in the room, what characteristics are key in those situations?
Caroline: Ensuring that the men are comfortable with me being there and treat me no differently
Chloe: Confidence in my abilities is key, but I genuinely think that would be the case in any working environment sometimes even more so in a room filled with strong women. However, it’s also important to maintain a sense of humour and not take everything too seriously. Being able to laugh at oneself and navigate through different situations with grace and professionalism is crucial.
Verity: I think in any professional environment it’s important to work hard, be willing to learn, have confidence in yourself and a positive attitude.
What is your favourite part of your job?
Caroline: Being part of success
Chloe: Working with a fantastic group of people and celebrating victories, both big and small, with the team. As cliched as it sounds the WRU national team staff are one big family and I have met friends for life in the short period I have been working with them.
Verity: The people
What would you say is the most rewarding part of your job?
Caroline: Ensuring everything is in order off the field to enable the players to do their job on the field.
Chloe: Witnessing the team’s camaraderie and hard work, especially during challenging moments. Being part of a collective effort and contributing to something special is incredibly fulfilling.
Favourite memory so far from the job?
Caroline: Winning the Grand Slams
Chloe: Beating Fiji in our world cup opening game. It was a testament to our team’s dedication and hard work.
Verity: The squad beating the Springboks in South Africa for the first time ever in Bloemfontein in July 2022 was special as was Rugby World Cup 2023 – particularly the games against Fiji and Australia.
What is something people may not know about what your role entails?
Caroline: Some people think that I only work for the head coach when my role is personal assistant to the whole squad of over 50 people.
Chloe: One aspect of my role that people may not fully understand is the level of dedication and commitment required to support athletes both on and off the field. It involves more than just treating injuries; it’s about providing emotional support, collaborating with other healthcare professionals, and ensuring the holistic well-being of the athletes. Additionally, the role demands adaptability and strong communication skills to address the dynamic needs of elite-level sport. And most importantly a good sense of humour, something that a couple of the team are still working on….
Verity: It requires a lot of planning and flexibility to get everything done – press conferences, 121 media interviews, content for our own channels and marketing activity etc – while not impacting on the rugby side of things which is the main purpose. It can feel like herding cats at times, but it’s very satisfying when all the activity’s finished.
