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[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]University of Hertfordshire Graduate Leslie Smith, has been having the time of his life in Canada. Leslie was the winner of The Society of Sports Therapists 2019 Travelling Scholarship to St Clair College, Windsor and he sent us a video to tell us a little about what he has been doing so far.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwd2lkdGglM0QlMjI1NjAlMjIlMjBoZWlnaHQlM0QlMjIzMTUlMjIlMjBzcmMlM0QlMjJodHRwcyUzQSUyRiUyRnd3dy55b3V0dWJlLmNvbSUyRmVtYmVkJTJGU0tFaFh5cUFqcUElMjIlMjBmcmFtZWJvcmRlciUzRCUyMjAlMjIlMjBhbGxvdyUzRCUyMmFjY2VsZXJvbWV0ZXIlM0IlMjBhdXRvcGxheSUzQiUyMGVuY3J5cHRlZC1tZWRpYSUzQiUyMGd5cm9zY29wZSUzQiUyMHBpY3R1cmUtaW4tcGljdHVyZSUyMiUyMGFsbG93ZnVsbHNjcmVlbiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRQ==[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]BSc Sports Therapy students and lecturers from the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) recently provided medical cover at the 2019 NatWest Gibraltar Island Games. The UCLan students and staff covered a wide variety of sports throughout the seven day event, putting their knowledge and skills to the test. We had spoken previously to Society Member and Principal Lecturer in the School of Sport and Health Sciences at UCLan, Andy Cunningham, before the therapy team left for Gibraltar. Andy played an important role in developing the link between UCLan and the Gibraltar Island Games, as well as leading the team during the event. You can read about how the opportunity came about here. We caught up with Andy again, along with Sheena Davis, a Society Member and UCLan Graduate Sports Therapist, now working at Therapists on the High Street as a Senior Sports Therapist and lecturing at Peter Symonds College, and who provided support throughout the week, to hear more about the experience. In total, 23 BSc Sports Therapy students travelled to Gibraltar, along with seven Postgraduate Sports Medicine students, who are either qualified Sports Therapists or Physiotherapists. Andy also invited three UCLan Sports Journalism students and their Lecturer, who produced copy for the Games, as well as filming the Sports Therapy students in action. Andy decided to organise the therapy team by putting each Postgraduate student in charge of a small group of Sports Therapy students, who then covered the Games in their teams. The student groups were rotated each day, which meant they could experience covering a wide variety of sports at the Games. Sheena, who acted as a Venue Medical Manager and as the lead medical for a team of students, explained what an average day for the therapy team was like: ‘As Sports Therapists, we would always get to the venue early to set up massage tables and risk assess, usually finding a place in the shade. Organisation was key as we had to find equipment such as ice, the AED and to see if there were any other emergency services on hand. ‘We always took our first aid supplies with us and had a protocol to follow should anything occur. This was a rarity but I did have to call Andy to transport a swimmer back to the polyclinic as she had passed out after her event. ‘Throughout the day, we offered massage and emergency first aid if it was needed at the venue, which differed depending on whether it was an individual (athletics/swimming) or team sport (basketball). If it was a team sport we had students on each of the games, as these were more likely to have injuries. Otherwise we set up a hub and made it known throughout the venue and among the athletes where we were.’ Andy’s main roles were to oversee and co-ordinate the smooth running of the medical cover and manage any issues that arose. Moving from sports to sport across the island, he saw the students in action and some of the injuries and conditions they had to deal with, some different to what the students had previously seen. He said: ‘It was a brilliant experience for the students. They were all over the island looking at different sports. The cycling race finished at the top of the rock and the half marathon was on the same day. It was very hot so we had to provide a lot of medical support dealing with heatstroke. Our students were ice packing people and one or two of the athletes were quite unwell, which is something you don’t really see in the UK as it doesn’t usually get so hot. ‘There were a couple of serious injuries too, like a dislocated shoulder during a judo event, which we dealt with.’ The UCLan team also staffed a polyclinic based at the University of Gibraltar, which was used by the athletes. The Games as a whole was a useful learning tool for the students too, as they got to experience what being a Sports Therapist at a multi-sport event is really like. Andy explains: ‘The polyclinic was staffed by Medical Officers from the Gibraltar Health Authority who were Sports Medicine Doctors. Our students staffed the polyclinic alongside them and each spent a day there, so they dealt with people coming in with medical issues, as well as people needing soft tissue work and others coming in with MSK injuries.’ Reflecting on the overall experience for the students, Andy said: ‘On the whole, what the students learned was not so much clinical, like how to assess a knee or a shoulder, although that was part of it. It was more about dealing with other agencies like officials, physios from other islands, paramedics, getting to the right place, making sure they have their kit, making sure the protocols were followed. I think they learned about teamwork within multi-disciplinary teams because that’s what happens at events like the Island Games.’ Sheena added: ‘The students have gained valuable experience in working with competitive athletes and the pressure we are under to get things right in a short period of time, as well as working with parents and coaches who want the athletes to win medals. ‘The students got to practise their taping, first aid and massage skills with a qualified medical manager to guide them. My students progressed throughout the week, their communication skills improved and I saw them using different techniques they had seen from me and other staff.’ And for Sheena personally, the event proved a great experience: ‘The highlight for me personally was working in different sports. I loved working in athletics and swimming. Facing the challenge of being the only one fully qualified to deal with a medical situation has boosted my confidence, as well as the staff allowing me to lead my team at polyclinic with no other staff present.’ Feedback from the athletes and from the Games organisers about UCLan’s work during the event has been incredibly positive. Previous Island Games had not had medical cover on the scale that UCLan was able to provide and it was a welcome addition to the event. Andy said: ‘This is the first time that the Games has had a polyclinic and all this medical support too, as they’ve previously had to rely on what was available at the time. The next Games are in Guernsey and, while it’s still to be formalised, they have already approached UCLan about providing similar cover because now the bar has been set quite high.’ Editor’s Note Congratulations to you Andy, UCLan, Sports Therapy staff, students and graduates. This was a ground-breaking venture which we hope will be a great example to other multi-sport event organisers, as to the skills and capabilities of our Graduate and Student Sports Therapists.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Megan Parker winner of The Society of Sports Therapists 2019 Student Travelling Scholarship to York University has been in touch from Canada and sent us a video message about her trip so far:[/vc_column_text][vc_video link=”https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W_BUmUJqtG8″ align=”center” src=”“https://www.youtube.com/embed/W_BUmUJqtG8“” width=”“560“” height=”“315“” frameborder=”“0“”][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Fit Again Sports Therapy Limited (F.A.S.T.), a Sports Therapy clinic in Cambridge run by Society Members Richard Luddington and Megan Williams, opened its doors to the public last month in aid of Transplant Sport UK. The clinic raised a huge amount on the day, over £450, which will go a long way in supporting the charity and transplant athletes. The team at F.A.S.T. offered 20 minute sessions in return for donations to the Society’s chosen charity for 2019, Transplant Sport UK. This summer, a team of therapists has supported the GB Britain and Northern Ireland (GB&NI) team at the British Transplant Games, and they will be doing the same for the GB &NI athletes at the World Transplant Games (17-23rd August 2019). The Society is supporting the therapy team’s efforts during these events by fundraising to cover the cost of equipment, travel and accommodation during both Games. Any additional funds raised will go towards supporting the therapists’ ongoing work with the transplant athletes. The team at F.A.S.T. is familiar with transplant athletes, having worked with Liam Barnett, GB gold medallist and World Record holder in Transplant swimming, so recognise the importance of raising awareness of the charity. Liam said: ‘I have been reinvigorated by the opportunity the Transplant Games offers; not only to keep fit and healthy after transplant but to show the world what is possible through organ donation. The team at F.A.S.T. have been great at helping us get back on track.’ (F.A.S.T. Clinic, Twitter, 2019) The Society would like to thank the F.A.S.T. Clinic team for their hard work and support for Transplant Sport UK and the GB&NI athletes – your contribution will be a great help in making sure the athletes have a safe and enjoyable Games. Don’t forget to let us know what you get up to by tweeting us @TheSSTofficial or emailing Head Office with your story: admin@thesst.org

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Michael Cole, a Society Member and Senior Lecturer for the Sports Therapy programme at the University of East London (UEL), recently delivered a workshop at the Race Equity through Pedagogy Conference at Sheffield Hallam University. The conference was hosted by the Higher Education Race Action Group (HERAG), an organisational body in the UK interested in advancing race equality in higher education. HERAG put a call out for academics to share their applied practice in equity pedagogy, which is teaching in a way that helps to eliminate inequalities. Michael initially suggested a 20-minute workshop, which HERAG considered, and subsequently requested a 40-minute session instead. The conference audience comprised various academics. Michael’s workshop, entitled ‘Connecting U(ni) to Me: A critical whiteness approach to healthcare education,’ focussed on how lecturers can make their teaching more equitable. Michael said: ‘There are lots of different ways to tackle inequity in higher education, from institutional and nationwide policy, to what individual groups of people can do when planning and reviewing curricula, teaching, assessing and giving feedback. So the workshop was very much framed around how one would approach pedagogy in higher education to try to eliminate gaps in racial equity.’ A report published this year by Universities UK (UUK), which 99 universities took part in, showed that there is a strong sense of education not being equitable for Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) students or students of colour. This report highlights the fact that, as recently as 2017-2018, the gap between the likelihood of white students and Black, Asian or minority ethnic (BAME) students being awarded a First or Upper Second-Class degree was on average 13%, despite accounting for factors such as differences in qualifications on entry, and socioeconomic status. This is known as the ‘BAME attainment gap,’ though Michael urges use of the term ‘opportunity divide’ to more accurately indicate the systemic problems that underpin it. Part of Michael’s presentation therefore focussed on shifting healthcare lecturers’ view of the BAME attainment gap from a ‘student deficit model,’ which is viewing students as ‘lesser than’ and asking what can be done to change them, to a ‘systems deficit model,’ which focusses on what institutions can do to make the curriculum and overall experience equitable for BAME students. Michael explains: ‘We can give BAME students extra academic writing support, we can give them additional support services but it doesn’t get rid of this divide because the one thing we are not doing well enough as academics and institutions is looking at ourselves with criticality and thinking, ‘how could I do better in my teaching and assessment strategies, make my curriculum more diverse and, critically, how can I reflect on my own position within an educational system that is socialised within, and of, whiteness? Is there anything I am unaware of about my complicity in the current system, and how I think and behave as a lecturer that perhaps affects my students’ sense of belonging, how much they feel valued and how much they matter?’ ‘The students appreciated the shift in power balance. Whereas I may still be the expert in Sports Therapy, I’m not an expert in, for example, their experiences of eating disorders as an athlete, or their racialisation as a student therapist, which are topics they have led discussions on. ‘That shift in power, the fact that I’m learning with them, gives us both a refreshed experience. It allows the dynamics to transform, such that we are moving towards with me identifying and being accepted as an ‘expert ally,’ rather than the traditional teacher-student dynamic which can often result in unhelpful conditions.’ Michael’s session was well received by his audience. He said: ‘The feedback was really positive. The audience was particularly interested in navigating the balance between satisfying the requirements of a professional healthcare programme with this kind of transformational teaching style. They’re not mutually exclusive: you can have a very rigid set of necessary learning outcomes and competencies for a healthcare programme, but you can also make it more inclusive as well. ‘I had several follow-up emails from delegates from other universities asking to find out a bit more and to network and share in greater depth, which was rewarding as well.’ Michael’s experience at the conference will contribute to his PhD, which he is currently working towards at UEL. His research is looking at critical whiteness studies in healthcare education, which looks from a sociological perspective at inequalities based on how society racialises people and how this has negative consequences across society, and specifically in education. He said: ‘This is a developing area but has its roots in anti-colonial activism and scholarship dating back to the Hispanic viceroyalties and colonial India of the 16th-century, and the transatlantic trade in enslaved Africans. Concepts originate within the theories of some of our greatest thinkers of contemporary times, including W.E.B Du Bois and Frantz Fanon, continue through Black Feminist Theory and Critical Race Theorists such as Kimberlé Crenshaw, and in the work of Critical Whiteness scholars such as Zeus Leonardo and Robin DiAngelo. I believe it is an essential lens that helps us understand racial injustices in the world today, and a vital tool with which we can, and should, challenge the status quo regarding racialised inequities in UK healthcare education.’ Michael’s PhD is autoethnographic, meaning his data is generated by his reflexive praxis, which includes engaging in academic activism and engaging in events such as this conference, sharing his ideas and findings with the wider academic community, and learning from others there too. Going forward, Michael will be presenting on similar themes at NET2019, a conference organised by AdvanceHE for healthcare educational professionals, and at the 2019 UEL Learning and Teaching Symposium, and is contributing a chapter to a forthcoming book in this field.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]The newly created Society of Sports Therapists Travelling Scholarship to St Clair College, Windsor, Ontario has been awarded to University of Hertfordshire Graduate Leslie Smith. Leslie, who recently gained a First Class Honours degree in Sports Therapy, will be the first Society Member to take up this award. On hearing he had been selected to travel to Canada he said: ‘I feel overjoyed and a little overwhelmed as well.’ The trip will see Leslie based in the St Clair Athletic Therapy clinic where he will spend time alongside Head Athletic Therapist Kim Stroesser and staff. He will also have the chance to accompany college teams during training and match preparation, and visit other centres and clinics, as well as meet with Sport, Exercise and Therapy specialists in Windsor. First Class Honours students from 25 Society accredited universities were given the opportunity to submit video applications for this national award and following scrutiny by a panel of 7 judges, 5 finalists were selected for interview. Kim Stroesser, Head of Athletic Therapy at the College flew in from Canada specifically for the interviews and was joined by Professor Graham N. Smith, Chairman of The Society of Sports Therapists and Maggie McNerney, Director of Charles Whitney Limited, the Marketing and PR company for the Society.   Professor Smith said: ‘As I always seem to say after these Travelling Scholarship interviews, I find them one of the hardest things to do because of the high standard quality of the young graduates whom we are interviewing. ‘I also feel very proud of what our accredited universities are producing. Interviewing Leslie reinforced not only the quality of the programme but the calibre of graduates entering the Sport and Exercise Therapy profession. ‘Leslie will be an excellent ambassador for The Society of Sports Therapists and the University of Hertfordshire and I know that during his time with Kim Stroesser at St Clair, he will continue to build on what is already an extremely outstanding level of knowledge and expertise.’ Recognising the role his tutors have played in his studies Leslie said: ‘I would like to say a massive thank you to all of the Sports Therapy staff at the University of Hertfordshire who have played such an important part in my studies and getting me this far.’ Leslie, has already secured employment with the FAST Clinic in Cambridge where he spent his placement year. There he joins two former Society of Sports Therapists Bruce Hobbs Scholarship winners Megan Williams and Richard Luddington. Congratulations Leslie and enjoy the experience.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text] Students from the Society accredited Sports Therapy programme at The University of Wales Trinity Saint David were able to gain invaluable hands-on experience at the Liberty Stadium (home of Swansea City FC and the Ospreys regional rugby team), Wales, as they supported Football Aid’s 2019 event with Swansea City FC. Football Aid is a charity that gives football fans the opportunity to experience a full match day with their favourite clubs. Players are given a personalised shirt and the chance to walk through the tunnel onto their chosen club’s pitch to a cheering crowd. Since its formation in 2001, 705 matches have taken place and over 18,000 football fans have had the chance to Live the Dream all over the UK, Europe and the USA, with the proceeds being donated to a variety of different charities and community projects. Funds raised from this year’s event at the Liberty Stadium will benefit the work of a charitable project nominated by Swansea City AFC Community Trust, as well as projects nominated by Football Aid’s parent charity, Field of Dreams. Charley Keen, a Lecturer for the BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy course, said: ‘First year students were able to consolidate their newly gained skills to deliver high quality pre- and post-event care, which was taken full advantage of by the players and former Swans professional footballers. Final year students were able to show off their taping and strapping masterpieces whilst also being on standby during the game, confidently equipped with the knowledge and practical skills learned during their recent sports trauma management module. ‘The event raises significant funds for a host of charity and community projects on a regional, national and international scale and it was an honour that UWTSD students were thought of highly and invited to get involved.’ Richard Milne, Events Manager at Football Aid, said: ‘We were delighted to team up with The University of Wales Trinity Saint David for our annual charity football match at the Liberty Stadium, and we are extremely grateful to Sports Therapy Lecturer Charley Keen and her team for their professionalism, practical advice and active contribution on the day. We look forward to continuing this relationship, and working with Charley Keen and the University again in the near future.’ The Sports Therapy department at UWTSD added: ‘UWTSD’s Sports Therapy department would like to thank Football Aid and Swansea City FC for their warm hospitality and for allowing our students to work alongside you in a professional and friendly environment.’[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Megan Parker from Leeds Beckett University is the winner of the 2019 Society of Sports Therapists Student Travelling Scholarship to York University, Canada. Megan, who recently celebrated gaining a First Class Honours degree in Sports & Exercise Therapy fought off tough competition from three other finalists, chosen from an open round of national applications. The good news was given to Megan by Professor Graham N. Smith, Chairman of the Society of Sports Therapists and a member of the interview panel, and it came as quite a shock to her. She said: ‘When the result was announced, I just went blank. I was really overwhelmed and surprised but so, so happy. I was completely in awe to be honest.’ Professor Smith was joined on the interview panel by Dr Loriann Hynes, who is Assistant Professor in the School of Kinesiology & Health Science at York University and who had travelled from Canada to be a part of the process, and Maggie McNerney, Director of Charles Whitney Limited, the marketing and PR company for the Society. Megan, who was supported on the day of the interviews by her father and sister who had travelled with her from Sheffield, is the third graduate to travel to Toronto for this exciting programme. She will be based on the York University campus and will spend time with the staff at the Gorman Shore Athletic Therapy Clinic, experiencing a pre-season training camp environment with University teams, along with match preparation and opportunities to travel with the teams. Megan’s love of sport, her experience playing a wide variety of sports and the knowledge and skills she has gained from her time at Leeds Beckett University will stand her in good stead to make the most of her time in Canada. When asked what she is most excited about, Megan said: ‘I’m looking forward to just getting stuck into everything. It sounds like I’m going to have so many opportunities out there and the travelling for away games will be an experience in itself, with getting the players prepped and ready. It’s just so exciting.’ ‘My accommodation wasn’t based on campus at Leeds Beckett, so to actually be on a university campus and experience that will be completely new to me too. ‘One thing that I want to do is to get totally immersed in York University’s culture, along with being involved in all of the varsity teams and spending time with all of the different athletes. I just can’t wait.’ Reflecting on the interviews Professor Smith said: ‘It is always difficult when we get to the interview stage, as all of the candidates selected have the potential to be great ambassadors for the Society with this opportunity. However, there is always the one who has that indiscernible X factor that gives them the edge and makes you feel this is the person to be selected. ‘This year, for me, it was Megan and I know that she will not only enjoy and benefit from the experience that York University will give her, but that she will be a credit to both The Society of Sports Therapists and Leeds Beckett University.’ Good luck Megan – a fabulous opportunity awaits you![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]London Metropolitan University Sports Therapy Graduate, Will Coghlan, will be joined on his twelve week humanitarian mission in Lesvos, Greece, by fellow London Metropolitan University Graduate Francesco Recchia, along with Sports and Dance Therapy student Angelika Napierala, who will both be on the island for two weeks. They will be in Lesvos to offer their Sports Therapy knowledge, skills and expertise to help refugees who would otherwise not have access to healthcare. Will, Francesco and Angelika are volunteering for Medical Volunteers International, a charity that provides primary healthcare, health promotion classes and emergency response to riots and fights that may take place in the camp and on the island, among other services, in Lesvos. Medical Volunteers International works in conjunction with One Happy Family, a community centre run to support refugees in Lesvos. One Happy Family hosts Medical Volunteers International’s clinic, providing a base for the medical team to see and treat around 600 patients each month. Will, who has already been in Lesvos for a month providing support to refugees from the Moria and Kara Tepe camps, said: ‘To my knowledge I am the first Sports Therapist to perform this type of work and I would like to share my experience with as many people as possible in the hope of motivating more therapists, such as myself, to undertake volunteering roles and to perform the type of therapy I am doing here.’ Lesvos is an important waypoint for refugees who are fleeing from wars and crises in countries in both Africa and the Middle-East. They often remain on the island for months but would risk discrimination and deportation if they tried to access standard healthcare. The skills and knowledge that Graduate Sports Therapists, Will and Francesco, and Student Sports Therapist, Angelika, have learnt through their Society accredited Sports Therapy degree programmes will allow them to provide an invaluable service during their time in Lesvos. So far, Will has seen and treated a wide variety of cases, ranging from the rehabilitation of victims of explosions, gunshot wounds and even a leopard attack. Sports Therapy Student Angelika, who, like Francesco, will be volunteering alongside Will for two weeks, said: ‘The mission is self-funded and involves covering costs such as travel, accommodation and food. We are therefore relying a lot on external financial support so that we can provide necessary treatments and develop this long-term lasting relationship. ‘We are hugely excited for this project and extremely grateful for any support which can be provided.’ The therapists will be presented with numbers of challenges, ranging from acute trauma therapy resulting from surgery, to chronic leg and back pain resulting from the conditions of travel and living, as well as the many cultural issues that may influence the provision of therapy. The Sports Therapy trio have launched three fundraising pages, which you can visit and donate via: Visit Angelika’s page Visit Francesco’s page Visit Will’s page[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Six students from The Society of Sports Therapists accredited BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy programme at University College Birmingham (UCB) were on hand during this year’s Six Nations to help prepare the Scotland men’s rugby players for one of the biggest Six Nations comebacks in history. The Level 6 students were selected by Gareth Bate, Sports Therapy Lecturer at UCB and Sports Therapist with Scotland Rugby, to assist at the match against England. At half-time, England were leading by 31-0 but, during the second half, Scotland managed a huge comeback which saw the two teams draw at 38-38, with Scotland retaining the Calcutta Cup. UCB students Kayleigh Jones, Michael Howe, Zoe-Jane Littlewood, Kenneth Simpson, Nikki Jay and Megan Dando all had the opportunity to spend time with high-profile players, including Scottish fly-half Finn Russell, using the Sports Therapy knowledge and skills they have learned so far from their course. Gareth, who has been part of the Scottish medical support team for five years and is a UCB Sports Therapy graduate himself, said it was an incredible opportunity for the students. ‘Students were asked to submit their CVs and a formal interview process took place,’ said Gareth, who was called on during the epic game to assist injured players leaving the field. ‘We not only wanted to provide students with an opportunity that no other undergraduate Sports Therapy students in the UK were getting, but preparation for real work experience by means of the interviews too. Even those who were unsuccessful gained valuable feedback, which should hopefully stand them in great stead with future employment. ‘We interviewed those who not only showed great skillsets, but had the potential to be real assets out there. It’s a pretty intense environment and you’ve got to be able to seamlessly integrate into the team and be ready to work hard. ‘The students we took along got to practise their soft tissue skills on 26 top athletes, putting into practice content they have learnt during their degree so far.’ UCB student Kayleigh Jones, who was selected to be part of the UCB therapy team, reflected on her experience: ‘It was a great opportunity provided by UCB and one I thoroughly enjoyed. I’m hoping it will open more opportunities to work with the Scotland rugby team in the future.  It was great to use my soft tissue skills whilst expanding my network of professional contacts. An incredible experience and a wonderful chance to learn what it is like to work with athletes at such an elite level.’ Gareth is now looking for two lucky third year students to accompany him to Japan in September for Scotland’s campaign in the 2019 Rugby World Cup. ‘They will, hopefully, be joining us at a summer camp at Oriam, Scotland’s National Sports Performance Centre, and then four warm-up games against France and Georgia before we fly out to Japan on September 9th. It’s a very exciting opportunity for them.’ Gareth, who worked with Team Scotland at the 2018 Commonwealth Games on Australia’s Gold Coast, played fly-half for Neath Athletic RFC and, on graduation from UCB, worked as a Sports therapist for the Ospreys, one of Wales’ four professional rugby union teams. UCB Sports Therapy students have been providing support at a number of events over the past year and were recently at Vélo Birmingham & Midlands. The students were able to get ‘hands on’ with some of the 17,000 riders, including England rugby union legend, Martin Johnson. Read more about the event and the students’ experience here.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]