While the Super Rugby season kicked off a few weeks ago and the Men’s and Women’s Rugby Sevens World Series’ started back in December, it’s also been a very busy time of year for many of our members off the field.
Fourteen RUPA members have begun their first year of a multi-year course at University this semester, joining 72 of their colleagues across the five Super Rugby Clubs and Sevens programs who are already studying.
For some of the fourteen, it’s the first time they’ve studied since school, while others with a love for study are back for more! There’s also players such as the Brumbies’ Blake Enever, technically a first year student who started his Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Southern Queensland in Semester Two, 2015.
2015 RUPA Academic Achievement Award winner Ben Daley wished all the new students good luck, and had some sage advice for them to take on board.
“I started my Bachelor of Laws at Bond University in 2006, and graduated last year so it took nine and a half years of part-time study to get through it,” Daley said.
“I want to wish all the members who are beginning new multi-year courses all the best for their study. I think it is crucial to be doing something away from Rugby, and the single biggest piece of advice I could give them is to continue to tick away your subjects throughout your career regardless of what is happening in your Rugby.
“At the start of your Rugby career you may have a bit more spare time on your hands before you start travelling with your team and potentially playing internationally, at which point your studies can take a bit of a back seat. Deferring multiple semesters and years makes it really hard to come back to your study, and I really recommend making sure you still do at least one subject every semester; in that respect, slow and steady wins the race and before you know you’re making significant progress in your degree.
“I would also recommend that players speak to their RUPA PDM’s as their first port of call. They usually have contacts within the education providers and are able to help work with them to accommodate student athletes. If you need an extension or an exam date is going to clash with your Rugby, give as much notice as possible so that things can be re-arranged and worked out.”
RUPA members entering their first semester of multi-year study
Asquith, Paul (Rebels) – B of Business, Swinburne University of Technology
Du Toit, Dominique (Women’s 7s) – B of Arts, Macquarie University
Fainga’a, Colby (Rebels) – B of Information Technology, Open Universities Australia
Figg, Sam (Men’s 7s) – M of Property Development & Investment, University of Technology Sydney (UTS)
Harris, Mike (Rebels) – B of Business, Swinburne University of Technology
Hunt, Karmichael (Reds) – B of Psychology, University of Southern Queensland (USQ)
Kennewell, Simon (Men’s 7s) – B of Construction Management, University of Newcastle
Magnay, Campbell (Reds) – B of Business, Queensland University of Technology (QUT)
Mathewson, Alby (Force) – Grad Cert Sports Coaching, University of Sydney
McCauley, Ryan (Waratahs) – B of Construction Management, University of New South Wales (UNSW)
Paia’aua, Duncan (Reds) – B of Criminology & Criminal Justice, Griffith University
Penitani, Tiana (Women’s 7s) – B of Communication, Griffith University/Open Universities Australia
Placid, Jonah (Rebels) – B of Education, Open Universities Australia
Robertson, Tom (Waratahs) – D of Medicine, University of Sydney
Simon Kennewll chats to ARU Chief Executive Bill Pulver at the 2015 RUPA Camp, Coogee.
