UC Lecturer trades in sunshine for the Emerald Isle

Graham Robinson

10 July 2008: “I will need to pack my gumboots and a raincoat.” That was the first reaction by University of Canberra lecturer Kate Pumpa when she received the news that she was to be offered a position as Sports Dietician with Leinster Rugby club in Dublin.

The offer came as a complete surprise she said, “I had noticed a job advertised with the club in a newsletter and on an impulse I thought I might forward an application.”

Shortly afterwards I was being interviewed by the coach who was in Australia at the time and then a week later I was offered the position. The Leinster Rugby club won the Celtic Cup after being runners up the previous year. The club will compete in both the Celtic and European Cup’s in 2009.

Leinster Rugby club also feature former Wallaby Chris Whittaker and current Wallaby Rocky Elsom will also be joining the club for a few months.

Ms Pumpa who has been with the University of Canberra for 12 months as Lecturer in Exercise Physiology and Anatomy as well as Manager of the Faculty of Health Clinic, said she was very excited about working with an elite sports team as these position’s are very difficult to find, she expects it will open doors to working with other elite sporting teams in the future.

“I don’t worry about the male dominated environment, as that is to be expected with a rugby club. They are very professional in everything they do and I am looking forward to being a part of the organisation,” she said.

Ms Pumpa believes the role of a sports dietician is becoming more important in professional sport, “As the game changes and becomes faster, players need to be more mobile including the forwards.

“I will be working on their body composition, analysing pre-post game food, travel menus and nutrition planning for all players. I will also be working with their academy squads and develop nutrition plans for individual players,” she said.

Sports Dietitian Kate Pumpa preparing for life in Ireland with the Leinster Rugby Club

As for Ireland, Ms Pumpa says she can hardly wait, “I am looking forward to the opportunity of being able to travel throughout Ireland and to many parts of Europe.”

2008 is developing into a year of milestones for Ms Pumpa, she competed in her first marathon in Queensland finishing in 958 place out of 3,935 competitors in a time of 3:42:37, this mean't she finished in the top 25 per cent of all runners in the event. She will also marry her long term partner in November and now commences a new life in Ireland.

She has yet to decide whether she will try to visit the Blarney Stone (reputed to give good luck and the gift of the gab) at Blarney Castle in County Cork.