Students Support International Teams at the Rugby Autumn Internationals

Over the past few weeks, staff and students from St Mary’s University, Twickenham have been providing pre and post-match sports massages to the New Zealand and Samoan International team as they take part in the Rugby Autumn Internationals. Students from St Mary’s undergraduate Sport Rehabilitation programme have been providing the massages, which has given them a unique opportunity to be involved in sport at an elite level. It comes soon after the recent visit by the Samoa Rugby Team who trained at the University ahead of their match last week. St Mary’s has a long-standing relationship with the Rugby Football Union and has supported a number of international teams for more than 10 years. Sport Rehabilitation Programme Director Claire McLoughlin commented, “It is an amazing opportunity for our students to be involved in the Rugby Autumn Internationals by providing a service to the visiting International Teams. This type of opportunity allows them to expand on their professional and clinical skills which are developed in the clinical placement modules. “Our students are always keen to be involved in such events and, along with staff, have thoroughly enjoyed this experience.” The University’s facilities will also be used by the South Africa and New Zealand teams during Rugby World Cup 2015 as part of their training base at St Mary’s.