Catherine Spencer
Best known for:
Catherine captained her country to the 2010 Rugby World Cup Final on home soil before retiring from the sport in 2011 after gaining 63 caps for her country.
Summary:
Following a successful on pitch rugby career Catherine has now made the bold move to transfer from the sports pitch to the business pitch as she has made her move to set up and run her own company Inspiring Women. Inspiring Women is a platform to encourage female speakers, mentors and ambassadors from the sports and adventure world to provide insight and share valuable lessons learnt with the business world. Alongside this Catherine has made sure that she is continually challenging herself and has taken part in a filmed mountaineering challenge in the Swiss Alps, has completed 2 marathons and entered a third and is taking on the task of coaching women’s rugby premiership side Aylesford ladies for the 2015/16 season. Catherine is also patron of the charity Tag Rugby Trust where she has volunteered her time in Uganda, Ghana, Zambia, Mexico and India.
Biography:
Former England Women’s Rugby Captain with eight years of playing elite level competitive sport and over 20 years experience of playing sport at all levels.
SPORTING ACHIEVEMENTS AND HISTORY
2011 - Sixth successive Six Nations Title
Retired from international rugby following a sixth successive Six Nations Championship win of which five were Grand Slam titles.
2011 - Linda Utley Award
Award recognising outstanding contribution to sport away from the pitch.
2010 - Rugby Union Writers Award
Award recognising outstanding achievements within rugby both on the pitch and as an ambassador for the sport.
2010 - Women’s Rugby World Cup (England)
Captained England to the final of the Women’s Rugby World Cup.
2009 - 50th Cap
Captained Engand, at Twickenham Stadium, to the first victory over World Champions New Zealand in eight years. Scored the only try of the match and was presented with the Investec Player of the Match award.
2007 – 2011 - England Captain
Led England to successes in:
The 2010 World Cup Final
The 2010 Six Nations (Grand Slam winners)
The 2009 Nations Cup,
The 2009 Six Nations,
The 2008 Nations Cup,
The 2008 Six Nations (Grand Slam winners),
The 2008 European Cup,
2006-2007 - England Player of the Year
2006 - Women’s Rugby World Cup (Canada)
Member of the England Rugby World Cup squad in 2006. Catherine started all the games, including the Rugby World Cup final which England narrowly lost to New Zealand.
2004 - England debut
SPORTS RELATED EXPERIENCE
2007-present - Patron of Tag Rugby Trust
The charity, which won the 2008 IRB Development Award, coaches Tag Rugby to underprivileged children in developing countries. Catherine has a close involvement with the charity, including travelling to Uganda, Zambia, Ghana, Mexico and India. Currently involved in fundraising initiatives for the Trust.
England Player Representative
Acting as a mediator between coaching and management staff and the player group.
An enquiry point for management and coaches when wanting a player perspective on a new or existing idea.
2004-present - RFUW Player Appearances
Representing the Rugby Football Union for Women (RFUW) at various player appearances which have included coaching sessions, speeches, question and answer sessions, prize givings and so on.
2004 – present - Media experience
Undertaking various media assignements varying from press conferences, live television and radio interviews, press launches and other television and media apearances whilst an England player and captain.
2011 – present - Commentary and Studio Pundit work
Examples include Studio pundit work at televised matches at Twickenham including England versus New Zealand tests in 2011 and 2012 and regular work with Sky Sports throughout the Women’s World Cup in 2014. Commentary work includes 2013 6 nations coverage via RFU live streaming, 2013 Autumn Internationals with Sky Sports and 2014 Six Nations with the BBC.
RELATED EMPLOYMENT:
April 2014 - CEO and Founder of Inspiring Women
Inspiring Women is a Speaker and Mentoring Agency using female speakers with a sports or adventure background delivering messages regarding teamwork, leadership, goal setting, change management, dealing with pressure, coming back from adversity and so on.
2010 – April 2014 - Women’s Regional Development Manager: RFUW / Womens Rugby Development Officer: RFU
Managing the continuing development of Women’s Rugby.
Ensuring effective communication and liaison between Sports Clubs, Constituent Bodies, Sports Partnerships, National Governing Bodies, Schools, Colleges, Universities, Rugby Football Union Staff and Volunteers.
Managing and implementing projects to increase opportunities for women and girls in rugby union.
EXAMPLE OF SPEAKING TOPICS:
- Leadership
- Women in sport and business
- Teamwork and building a team
- Setting goals
- Dealing with pressure and expectation
- Buiding confidence
Fee range:
Please Enquire