Aussie UFC superstar Alex Volkanovski has reportedly donated $10,000 to help St George Illawarra’s NRLW program in a generous bid to support the women’s game.
Volkanovski is the current and two-time UFC Featherweight Champion, having also fought for the Lightweight Championship against Islam Makhachev on two occasions.
The 36-year-old is an Illawarra local, and alongside tipping in funds to support the Dragons’ NRLW program, he is also set to assist with the team’s wrestling program according to Code Sports.
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The Dragons have been calling on sponsors and business to support their female future fund, which has now raised $23,000.
That money will be used to boost the female program, which runs with minimal funding, hoping to improve their facilities and the development staff available to players.
“It’s just something that I wanted to do. The sport is growing so much in this region,” Volkanovski said.
“I was talking to my physio, Mick Baines, and he was just giving me a bit more of an insight on how it is.
“If you can invest in the sport’s growth, and create more opportunities, that’s how it’s going to grow overall.
“You can see it in the soccer as well with how incredible the Matildas did and stuff like that.
“From those discussions, I thought I’d donate some money and will give my time as well with some of the wrestling as well.
“If there’s a bit of money I can donate to help them be professional athletes, and maybe give those opportunities – whether it’s strength and conditioning, physios, doctors, whatever they need to help that process.”
Volkanovski also knows what it’s like to be a semi-professional athlete, having spent time training martial arts before joining the UFC.
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“I know that when I was able to go professional and go full-time, I was able to go to a whole other level,” he said.
“When I could fully commit, I went to another level. We’ve got so many great athletes, and if we want them to reach their potential, they need the opportunities.”
The UFC star was also hopeful that with further funding the Dragons’ NRLW squad and the women’s game will only get stronger.
“It was more hopefully to get the ball rolling. I’m not expecting that money to be able to fix everything, but if we can point it in the right direction, we can watch the sport grow,” he said.
“I think pound-for-pound, Australia has some of the best athletes in the world, and to be able to get all these athletes to reach their full potential would be unreal.
“The world needs to see it.”
