Genevieve Cox scoops URC MVP Award

Congratulations to Genevieve Cox, daughter of Longford RFC member and former player, Tom Cox, who has been named one of the Most Valuable Players (MVPs) of the 2025 United Rugby Championship (URC) Women’s Leadership Academy (WLA), an international initiative designed to break down barriers for women seeking careers in the sports industry.

The WLA was launched in response to research revealing that 92% of women face barriers entering the sports industry, and that 8 in 10 would benefit from access to mentoring. Supported by CVC, the programme brings together 60 promising candidates aged 18–26 from across the globe for a series of workshops, mentorship sessions, and career development opportunities led by accomplished women working at the highest levels of sport.

From hundreds of international applicants, Genevieve was selected to take part and following her standout contributions, she was announced as MVP, alongside Kaelin Louw from South Africa.

As part of her award, Genevieve joined the URC team on the ground at the BKT URC Grand Final 2025 in Croke Park, where she gained hands-on experience in the high-pressure environment of a major sporting event. She particularly gravitated toward the media and communications aspects of the tournament, and was exposed to the breadth of planning, teamwork, and coordination involved in bringing such a spectacle to life.

Genevieve’s passion for sport began at a young age. Influenced by her father, she grew up playing Gaelic football and hockey, and has always cherished the experience of attending rugby matches with her family. The significance of sport became even more personal after her father suffered a stroke in 2023, a moment that revealed to her the strength and support of the rugby community around him.

While studying law at UCC, Genevieve took modules in Sports Law and the Sports Law Clinic modules she cites as the most enjoyable of her degree. These experiences fuelled her decision to explore a career path in the sports industry, which ultimately led her to apply for the URC Women’s Leadership Academy.

“The programme has inspired me beyond belief, surrounding yourself with likeminded people who truly are passionate to see you succeed.,” Genevieve said.

 “Each speaker brought something unique to the table and made the idea of a career in sport feel real and achievable. Being named MVP alongside Kaelin was incredibly humbling. The week I spent working with the URC team was a whirlwind – fast-paced, inspiring, and genuinely empowering. I’ve come away from it with a much stronger belief in myself and a clearer vision for where I want to go next -whether it’s rugby, soccer, F1 or the Olympics!”

Genevieve also paid tribute to the team spirit and culture within the URC organisation, noting the visible presence of women in leadership roles and the support she received throughout the process as a true testament to the URC’s commitment to change.

“The WLA has opened doors for me that I wouldn’t have known how to knock on before!”

Genevieve’s journey stands as a powerful example of how sport can create pathways for the next generation of women leaders. As the URC continues its mission to make the industry more inclusive and representative, her story is one of possibility, progress, and pride for the community that helped shape her.