Touch Football Australia Thanks Cathy Gray and Swain Rovelli

As 2025 ushers in the start of a new international Touch Football cycle, Touch Football Australia (TFA) would like to acknowledge and celebrate two important figures of the High Performance (HP) Program who have announced their retirement in 2024.

After a successful campaign at this year's Touch World Cup (TWC) in Nottingham, England - Cathy Gray and Swain Rovelli will be stepping down from their respective roles, with both individuals leaving behind an extraordinary legacy.

Cathy Gray

A once-in-a-lifetime volunteer, Cathy Gray is departing the Athelite Australian Emus HP Program after an incredible thirty-five years of dedication to the sport. TFA's first-ever female life member, Cathy has long been the guiding light for the HP program, attending forty-one international tournaments throughout her career. 

Cathy’s accomplishments include serving on the TFA Talent Identification Panel from 1990 to 1998, the Selectors Panel from 1996 to 1998, and as the Director of Selectors from 1998 to 1999. She was also honoured with the Ron Hanson Medal at the 2010 Masters Trans-Tasman Series and the Phil Smith Medal at the 2011 World Cup in Scotland.

Volunteers like Cathy are rare in any sport, and Touch Football has undoubtedly been enriched by her service.

Swain Rovelli

Swain Rovelli retires from his position as head coach of the Australian Women’s Open team - having never lost a game. His involvement with the team spans over a decade, beginning as an assistant coach at the 2015 TWC.

Promoted to head coach in 2016, Swain led the team to two World Cup titles and four Trans-Tasman series victories. Throughout his tenure, he fostered a strong sense of family and unity within the Women’s program, instilling a culture of connection and excellence.

Widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in international Touch Football history, Swain retires with over fifty caps for his country and a flawless coaching record.

TFA extends its sincere gratitude to both Cathy and Swain for their outstanding contributions and wishes them all the best as they embark on the next chapters of their lives.