Dual role suits Zackary just fine
By Mark Stevens
21/4/22
Life as a professional athlete can be demanding at the best of times, but throw in a job alongside it, plus an eight-hour time difference to do it, and you will see what Kate Zackary has to deal with on a daily basis.
Now into her second season as one of the leading lights in the Exeter Chiefs Women’s team, the 32-year-old is somewhat of a workaholic, both on and off the field. It’s a life, however, that suits her just fine, particularly as she looks to a big year ahead.
Not only does she harbour hopes of helping deliver a first-ever piece of women’s silverware to the Sandy Park trophy cabinet, but on the international stage she is poised to lead the USA Eagles into their latest Rugby World Cup campaign down in New Zealand.
It’s busy times for the all-action forward, who was born in Garden City, Kansas, but grew up in a military family, often relocating to new environments.
Her latest stop-off, however, is right here in Devon, where she has quickly settled to life in Exeter amongst a grow band of nations that Chiefs head coach Susie Appleby has assembled to compete in the ever-growing Allianz Premier 15s league.
“I guess the initial draw of coming to Exeter was, like most of the girls, just trying to find a place to play rugby in a time of unknown,” said Zackary. “With the Rugby World Cup firmly on the horizon, I just needed to play. That said, I have known Susie for a while and I had seen her coaching here in England.
“With Exeter starting a new club, I was excited to be part of the new project here. I want to be part of those trailblazers who were starting something new.”
Indeed, it didn’t take Zackary long to settle into her new Westcountry roots, especially as she had a clutch of her compatriots also making the flight across the Atlantic. As relative unknowns within the women’s game, the Chiefs had a blank canvas from which to work. Not that they weren’t afraid to get competitive.
During an encouraging first campaign, one which was played out around the ongoing uncertainty surrounding the Covid pandemic, the newly-formed Chiefs were happy to prove their worth, even going as far as blooding the noses of some of the more established clubs such as Saracens, Wasps and eventual champions Harlequins along the way.
“We had nothing to lose,” explained Zackary. “Unlike some of the other clubs, if we lost, yes we would be disappointed, but that outside pressure wasn’t there. It was not until we beat some of those top clubs that people started to take a real look at us. Now, we’ve got a target on our backs, so it’s helped to raise our standards in our bid to get into that top four, hopefully the top two.”
And its that focus to succeed in every area that clearly drives Zackary onwards and upwards.
“Some people joke that I’m immortal, but what is sleep when you have coffee and good company,” she laughs. “I’m an account manager for an SEO company based on the Pacific Coast. I’ve been there for three years, but they are a remote company – even before Covid hit – so it’s afforded me lots of opportunities to chase rugby.
“For me, its great that they let me do what I do, work odd hours and build relationships with the clients. Obviously, the key to it all is around scheduling calls and things like that, but it works for me and it works for them. Quite often I come back from training and then I start the day job as such. I’ll work from say 10pm in the evening to the early hours.
“I’ve got clients who now I’ve been here a while, they are kind of used to seeing me with black eyes or bumps and bruises. The good thing, though, is that they follow me, they follow the Chiefs and they keep an eye on what’s happening.
“I’ve kind of got used to this way of working and so have my managers and the clients I have. It means I have a few late nights here and there, but I chose this life. I want to pursue my dreams and that’s what I am doing. At the same time, I know there is life after rugby, so it’s important I have a career as such.
“Being here in Exeter, I’m excited for the future. We’ve got a project here that everyone is really buying into and we’re seeing it really grow all the time. Yes, there are times when you miss loved ones and family back home, but they are all so supportive and they help give you the drive you need to succeed.”