Congratulations to Kim Evans, winner of Rugby Australia's Joe French award for Outstanding Contribution to Rugby
Kim has been actively involved in South Australia for over 25 years, and has made a profound impact to Womens Rugby but also displaying fairness and justice through her role as Judicial Chair. She has devoted thousands of hours in various senior committee, administrative and supportive roles since she was first elected to the Old Collegians committee in 1999, then being elected President in 2005. Since 2021, Kim has devoted her time as a club committee member, and now President at Adelaide University Rugby Club.
Celebrating everything that’s great about Australian rugby 🙌 Congratulations to all recipients of our Community Awards for 2024.
Posted by Rugby Australia on Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Kim has been an active member and chair of various Competition and Womens Advisory Groups for over ten years, and has managed dozens of state and club teams, and has established pathways for the women’s game that would not otherwise exist. Kim is the founder and President of the Firebrand Rugby Club, introducing a community 7s program for young girls and women to play the game locally, interstate and overseas.
She was instrumental in persuading the University of Adelaide to make a considerable investment in Rugby Australia’s National Womens Sevens Series in 2017, and acted as the Program Manager. She was responsible for delivering a fully funded, elite Rugby 7s program in SA, fielding a competitive semi-professional team on the national stage and developing its athletes onto Australian representation.
Kim has given over 10 years of her expert legal capability as the RUSA Disciplinary Chair, where she has adjudicated hundreds of difficult on-field disciplinary and off-field code of conduct matters. This vital role frequently required Kim to make extremely difficult assessments and outcomes within a small community. She had carried out this role selflessly and with absolute objectivity, despite often-consequential impact to those she is then required to share a sideline with.
Of her many outstanding contributions to the rugby community, Kim’s most valuable contribution has been in her devoted support and unwavering advocacy for Womens rugby. Kim’s personal contribution has undeniably ensured generations of young women have not only been introduced to our game, but have competed at the highest level.
