All Blacks Rugby Star to Study at St Mary’s

New Zealand All Blacks star and World Cup Winner Ben Franks is to study at St Mary’s University, Twickenham. Franks, who signed for London Irish earlier this week, will begin an MSc Strength and Conditioning Science at St Mary’s School of Sport, Health and Applied Science. The course, which regularly attracts elite athletes is delivered by experienced coaches and sport scientists. It makes use of St Mary’s world-leading equipment and resources, including three physiology laboratories and two biomechanics laboratories. Ben Franks was part of the World Cup winning All Blacks team in 2011 and also part of the 2013 unbeaten squad. He made his international debut in 2008 and has also represented New Zealand at under 19 and under 21 levels. Commenting on the move, Ben Franks said, “It is a family friendly Club which played a big part in my decision to move my family over. London Irish also has a link with St Mary’s University where I will be able to study alongside playing rugby for the Club. “There is still work to be done in New Zealand but my family and I are looking forward to joining the Club next season.” Prof John Brewer, Head of Sport, Health and Applied Science (SHAS) said, “We are delighted to have a rugby player of Ben's calibre studying at St Mary's University, and to have the opportunity to provide support to London Irish rugby club. Ben will be an inspiration to our students, and the unique nature of our MSc in Strength and Conditioning Science, which has a large on-line distance learning focus, means that he has already been able to commence preliminary studies with us." MSc Strength and Conditioning Programme Director Jon Goodwin said, "We’re delighted to see this addition to our next student cohort. Supporting elite athletes in preparing for the next stage of their career was one of the reasons this masters course was developed, and those same athletes bring fantastic experience to discussion forums on the course." St Mary’s University is one of London's top-performing sports institutions and has been recognised as a High Performance Centre for Sport. It offers a wide-range of sport degrees and supports students, some of which are world-class athletes, to better understand their sport and combine their academic and athletic development. In the 2014 Research Excellence Framework, which assess the impact of research in UK universities, St Mary’s School of Sport, Health and Applied Science was deemed to undertake ‘world leading’ and ‘internationally excellent’ research. In December 2014 St Mary’s opened its new Strength and Conditioning Suite (known as the Performance Education Centre) following an investment of £250,000. This new world class facility was developed in response to increased demand and will be used for both teaching and service delivery in the areas of strength and conditioning, rehabilitation and health related exercise. It incorporates a unique combination of both training and laboratory equipment for the assessment of force production, movement technique and muscle function. Named as a ‘Top University for Sport’ by independent reviewer Which? University, 2015 it will host both the South African and New Zealand rugby teams during Rugby World Cup 2015. During the London 2012 Olympics, athletes from ten nations encompassing a range of different sports chose to train using the University’s world-class facilities.  Sporting alumni Mo Farah and Moe Sbihi won medals, and David Weir - who trains at St Mary’s - won four Paralympic Gold medals.