Olympic medallist Burgess helps launch Loughborough Rugby Sevens Programme
On Wednesday 15th February 2017 Loughborough University launched its new look Rugby Sevens Programme, which is one of four Rugby Football Union (RFU) student hubs for Sevens.
The new RFU initiative, which aims to use four university hubs as a key part of its Sevens pathway, will come into full effective when the domestic Seven’s season kicks off in April.
Joining former England Seven’s player John Brake, who was unveiled as Loughborough’s new Seven’s coach, was Rio 2016 silver medallist Phil Burgess. Burgess, a Loughborough University alumnus, returned to his alma mater to take part in a Q&A session and put some of the Loughborough players through their paces in a training session.
Thanks to the additional funding from the RFU, the four Seven’s hubs will further develop player, coach and facility standards across the universities, as well as supporting talented Seven’s players with opportunities to be involved within the England Sevens pathway. Already Charlie Kingham and Will Edwards were part of the England Academy side that won in Dubai, whilst Sam Pointon has captained the GB Student Sevens.
Of the new RFU initiative, Loughborough Seven’s Head Coach John Brake commented: “By launching this hub we can create a pathway for students to excel by giving them elite support and training, so they can go on and showcase their talent as a Sevens player.”
Phil Burgess added: “It’ll be fantastic for players to have a direct route into Sevens. Having professional advice and coaching of such high calibre, with the sporting prowess here at Loughborough, will aid the players no end.
If I was in this position five or six years ago, it would have put me in an even better position. I think it’s incredibly exciting for both Sevens and the University.”
View the press release on the Loughborough University website for further information and resources.
Loughborough is one of the country’s leading universities, with an international reputation for research that matters, excellence in teaching, strong links with industry, and unrivalled achievement in sport and its underpinning academic disciplines.
It has been awarded five stars in the independent QS Stars university rating scheme, named the best university in the world for sports-related subjects in the 2020 QS World University Rankings and top in the country for its student experience in the 2018 THE Student Experience Survey.
Loughborough is in the top 10 of every national league table, being ranked 4th in the Guardian University League Table 2020, 5th in the Times and Sunday Times Good University Guide 2020 and 8th in The UK Complete University Guide 2020.
Loughborough is consistently ranked in the top twenty of UK universities in the Times Higher Education’s ‘table of tables’ and is in the top 10 in England for research intensity. In recognition of its contribution to the sector, Loughborough has been awarded seven Queen's Anniversary Prizes.
Specialising exclusively in postgraduate-level study, Loughborough University London is based on the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park and offers cutting-edge master’s and PhD degrees, as well as business collaboration, research and enterprise opportunities.
The seven specialist institutes at Loughborough University London include: Design Innovation, Digital Technologies, Diplomacy and International Governance, Innovation and Entrepreneurship, International Management, Media and Creative Industries, and Sport Business. Close industry partnerships with a wealth of leading businesses and creative organisations means teaching and learning is informed by real-life challenges and driven by true industry pressures.