Karolina Jaszcyzyszyn would probably have never got involved in rugby had a friend not tricked her into attending her first-ever training session.
The friend told Karolina that they were going to train with a local football team in Gdansk, but instead, it was a rugby session which set her off on a path which led to her captaining her country.
“My friend invited me to football training, but it turned out that she lied to me to convince me to go. It turned out that it was actually rugby training,” Karolina told World Rugby.
Karolina has since been at the heart of the growth of women’s rugby in Poland – something that she hopes to continue as she switches her focus to coaching.
“Having played rugby for 14 years, I’ve been fortunate to experience the sport’s growth in Poland first hand,” she said.
“I started my journey when Poland was competing in Division B, and together, we progressed step by step through each level, ultimately reaching the European Championship.
“This journey taught me that success is a process – it takes time, dedication and a relentless drive toward your goals.
“Discipline and high standards were critical to this progress, and these values are something I carry with me into coaching.
“Now, as I lead a junior team and continue to develop my coaching skills, I draw on these experiences to guide young players.
“I understand the importance of patience and persistence, not just in achieving results, but in fostering growth at every stage.
“While there’s so much to learn, my background has given me a strong foundation to build on as I work to become a successful coach.”
Karolina, who works as a PE teacher at a primary school, is now the first coach from Poland to participate in the Gallagher High Performance Academy, which will give her the opportunity to work with and learn from other talented female coaches from across the rugby world.
“By participating in this programme, I hope to further develop my coaching skills and gain a deeper understanding of how to effectively guide and inspire players at different stages of their rugby journey,” she said.
“I want to improve my ability to design training sessions that not only build technical and tactical abilities, but also foster team work, discipline and confidence in my players.
“I’m also eager to learn from other experienced coaches on the programme, exchange ideas and explore new perspectives on coaching.
“In Poland, rugby is still developing and, while we don’t currently have women’s 15-a-side teams, our focus on Sevens is a great foundation to build from.
“Programmes like the Gallagher High Performance Academy can help bridge this gap by equipping female coaches with the tools, confidence and exposure they need.”
