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Sporting Partners
12/02/04
Leeds Met and its Carnegie Campus has teamed up with Headingley Stadium to form a partnership that will put Leeds and in particular Headingley on the world sporting stage. For over one hundred years Headingley Stadium has been a name synonymous with top class sporting achievement in both rugby and cricket. Carnegie was one of the founding colleges of Leeds Met and its reputation for sporting and educational excellence is now being recalled by new Vice-Chancellor Professor Simon Lee who has announced a new Carnegie Faculty of Sports & Education. The Headingley partnership will unite elite sport and the latest research and development in sports science. |
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The partnership will be the first step in the development of Leeds Met’s Carnegie Faculty of Sport and Education as a centre of excellence and world class leader for sport-related studies, which already attracts students from across the world who want to develop their sporting potential (see footnote 1).
Commenting on the new partnership Leeds Rugby Chief Executive Gary Hetherington said, “Leeds is already the country’s most popular place for students and now those with a talent, in particular rugby in our case, will have the best of both worlds.”
“Leeds Metropolitan University and ourselves are looking to do what the American Universities have been doing very successfully for years. It’s all part of raising standards and developing athletes to their full potential.”
Leeds Rugby have identified a number of areas that will benefit from the new arrangement with Leeds Met. It is hoped that it will increase the stadium’s international profile, open up the student market to help increase attendances at Headingley and introduce the 41,000 students at Leeds Met to all three sports at the stadium, as well as enhance the Leeds Rugby and YCCC policy of making Headingley accessible to the wider community.
“We have so much in common with Leeds Met, we are both striving to gain a world-wide reputation for excellence and the personal development of our potential stars is paramount.
“Education is now an integral part of the professional sportsperson’s tool kit and this partnership will put us at the forefront of elite athlete preparation and team performance,” added Hetherington.
However, it is the benefit to the players and coaching staff that will see the biggest areas of development. There are six key ways that have been initially identified:
1. Increased Educational Opportunities
Currently, six Rhinos First team players are studying on degree
courses at Leeds Met and other opportunities for 16-18 year olds
will be on offer.
2. Access to latest technology on Physiological Testing
The University has some of the most modern equipment and techniques
for testing players and this will be made available to the first
team players and also Leeds Rhinos Apprentices.
3. Involvement in Research and Development
Professor Carlton Cooke is an expert in the field of sports science
and has a keen rugby interest. He tutored the Rhinos Conditioner,
Steve Walsh, and the staff of Leeds Rugby and the Professor will
work closely on a number of initiatives. The Research and Development
Department will be based at Carnegie.
4. Use of University training facilities
Including two indoor sports halls, all weather floodlit pitches
and modern athletics track.
5. The Sponsorship of the Youth Development to Leeds Rhinos will enable more resource and investment to be made.
6. UK Player Recruitment
Increased opportunity to attract the most talented rugby players
from other areas to combine rugby career and education as a Leeds
Rugby player/Leeds Met University student.
“The salary cap in both Rugby Union and Rugby League will be a great leveller and the clubs that will prosper will be those who invest in youth development, take advantage of modern technology and form partnerships of this nature,” commented Hetherington.
As well as all of the above, Leeds Met University will have a permanent base in the Hirst & Rhodes Suite at the Stadium and this will be used by Leeds Met to host meetings, bringing as many home and international students and visitors as possible into the celebrated surroundings of a world-class sporting arena.
Leeds Metropolitan University will also sponsor the Leeds Rhinos Academy at Kirkstall, close to Leeds Met’s award-winning Kirkstall Brewery student residences. This includes supporting both the Rhinos Apprentice Scheme and the Senior Academy team.
End
For further details please contact Phil Daly at Leeds Rugby on 0113 278 6181 ext 246 or Lucy Laville at Leeds Met on 0113 283 5935.
Further notes to editor:
(footnote 1)
Earlier this week Leeds Met announced its second cohort of sports
scholars, many of whom already compete at a national level.
Scholars include field hockey player Rohan Thomas, from Barbabos,
who has over 50 caps for Barbados and is studying for a Certificate
in Chartered Management at Harrogate College, and Karen Nisbet,
from Leeds, a Commonwealth Games and potential Olympic swimmer,
who is studying part-time for a BA(Hons) Accounting and Finance.
