World stage for student rugby stars

The international sporting stage is set for two rugby playing Teesside University students due to represent Great Britain.

Aaron Myers and Jo Brown will join the GB Student Sevens men's and women's squads at the World University Championships 2014 in Brazil.

Both Aaron and Jo are involved in Teesside University’s Elite Athlete Scheme, which provides a comprehensive package of support for athletes of international calibre.

Sport and Exercise (Coaching Science) student Aaron, from Hartlepool, captained the GB squad last year at the World University Student Games in Russia.

Aaron, 26, who teaches PE at Dyke House School in Hartlepool, said: 'The opportunity last year to captain Great Britain was a fantastic experience and I'm really looking forward to going to Brazil.

'I've never visited that part of the world before, but enjoyed finding out about the culture from the recent World Cup coverage. I'm looking forward to soaking up the atmosphere and going as far as we can in the tournament.'

Aaron credits Teesside's Elite Athlete Scheme for improving his overall training methods and pushing him towards the top of his sport.

He said: 'The scheme really helped me to play at this level and reach my potential. As well as the top-class facilities, there's mentoring, strength and conditioning programmes and regular testing. The support I've received from Mihkal Laas and Matthew Wright through the scheme has been phenomenal.'

BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy student Jo, from Manchester, said: 'I was originally a reserve but one of the players was called up for the World Cup, which was good for me too, as it now means I'm going to Brazil.

'I'm really looking forward to it as I’ve never been to South America and it will be first time I've played rugby sevens at this level. It's a much shorter and really fast paced game and the tactics are really different to the rugby I usually play. I'm more used to being with a squad of 26 players, but with rugby sevens there will only be 14 of us, so we'll be even closer as a team.'

Jo, 20, who last year joined the England under-20s in the Nation's Cup, added: 'Teesside's Elite scheme really helped me to get back into the game and progress from a point where I was almost quitting, to a level where I'm now going to Brazil and playing at this level.

'What I'm learning as an Elite Athlete is also very relevant to what I'm studying too,' added Jo, who plans to continue to postgraduate study and eventually work as a physiotherapist.

Matthew Wright, Sports Development Officer (Elite Sport) at Teesside University said: 'It's is really exciting to see Jo and Aaron performing at the pinnacle of student sport, it's testament to their work ethic.

'We try to provide holistic and cutting-edge sports science support on an individual level to develop our student athletes and we are seeing unprecedented success this year with five athletes competing at major world events. It's is great to see them doing so well and reflects what we are trying to achieve through the scheme.'

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Find out more about the Elite Athlete Scheme