Bogdan Zhulavsky becomes The Rugby Foundation's Ambassador in Ukraine.
2025 has certainly started at pace for 45 year old Bogdan Zhulavsky. On January 1st we announced that Bogdan had been awarded The Rugby Foundation's Spirit of Rugby Award for his consistent hard work in supporting and promoting rugby and the rugby community in Ukraine, and now Bogdan has become a TRF Ambassador.
Speaking about the appointment, Bogdan said that he was "very proud and honoured" not only to be asked but also following his Spirit of Rugby Award. He continued "working for TRF will be better than having a job. Working with you (Mike) and Phil is amazing, I want to help rebuild rugby in Ukraine and I want to get started right now."
Following surgery that effectively ended his playing career where he represented his Country in both 7s and 15s, Bogdan still gives back to the game both as a coach, Team Manager, Club Supporter and Referee.
When asked what his priorities would be as an Ambassador, he commented that the first task must be to Rebuild Rugby, an ambitous task with the current situation in Ukraine. "There are great people in Ukraine, like Maryna in Nova Dolena who are already creating youth programmes and teams but as they build the teams, we should help to build the pitches and facilities. "
Bogdan is already taking an active role to #RebuildRugby with TRF as we work with the local authority in Nova Dolena to create a brand new pitch for the children of Avangard and is now leading that project in Country as we look at the work required and costs.
As well as facilities (some of which have of course been destroyed in the war), Bogdan wants to
"Build a culture, create development opportunities and a professional rugby community."
Whilst we begin to #RebuildRugby in Ukraine, Bogdan is keen to look further inland than just the Odesa region where our work began. "We need more people like Maryna" he added, "people who can inspire and build but we need investment and leadership too"
"We are very lucky in Odesa with the people who run the game here, I want that to be what every rugby player experiences across Ukraine."
Of course anybody who has tried to create a club, a new team or a facility will know just how difficult that is but to try and do so in the middle of a war makes everything that much harder. Funding has naturally been cut, there are fewer people to manage teams and facilities, people who once were the backbone of clubs are away fighting or are no longer with us.
Creating anything more than pure survival when faced with devastation like this on a daily basis is not going to be easy, but the "rugby family" is a big one and one that must come together from all over the world to make that change and Bogdan will be there to help coordinate and lead.
