NRL-RLPA Inaugural Academic Team of the Year - Global Rugby League

The Inaugural NRL-RLPA?Academic Team of the Year team of the year has been announced. The concept behind this move by the NRL is to prepare football players for life after football.?With the support of more than $4.6 million in education grants each year from the NRL and clubs, 80 per cent of NRL players have completed or are currently engaged in further education or workplace training.

Rugby League players often find themselves lost after football looking for a job or a career and the?Academic Team of the Year is put in place to ease those pressures. ?Across the game:

? 62 NRL players (14%) are enrolled or have completed a University Degree; a further 98 Toyota Cup players (19%) are enrolled in a University Degree;

? 250 NRL players (55%) are enrolled or have completed a Vocational Education Training (Certificate II to Diploma); another 120 Toyota Cup players (22%) are also enrolled or have completed a VET programme;

? 52 NRL players (11%) have completed at least two years of a trade apprenticeship; while 59 Toyota Cup players (13%) are currently working as an apprentice;

? The remaining 20% of NRL players have either participated in short courses, work experience or have undergone a skills assessment to determine career pathways outside of rugby league.

The Team of the year lines up this way:

1. William Zillman (Gold Coast Titans): Bachelor of Business (Real Estate and Property Services) at Southern Cross University, working with Wealthfarm financial planners, Certificate II in Sport and Recreation, Certificate III in Fitness, NRL education ambassador.

2. James McManus (Newcastle Knights): Has started Bachelor of Human Movement and is now studying an Advanced Diploma of Property Services ? Valuation, NRL education ambassador, Knights education mentor, representative of ?Ambassadors for Young Australians? program.

3. Jerome Ropati (Vodafone Warriors): Graduate Diploma in Business, Auckland University of Technology, NRL education ambassador, NZ Universities sportsman of the year, now studying human anatomy and physiology in the lead-up to starting Physiotherapy and Sport and Recreation Degree.

4. Chris Lawrence (Wests Tigers): Studying Bachelor of Commerce through Open Universities, NRL education ambassador, has started his own sports company, Live Work Play, that conducts sports programs in Western Sydney. He also runs school and community lifestyle programs and is qualified to teach Certificate IV qualifications in fitness.

5. Sam Perrett (Sydney Roosters): Completed Certificate III in Carpentry, currently completing Certificate IV in Building and Construction and Diploma of Management, NRL education ambassador. Has also completed short courses in wealth creation, investment strategies and real estate.

6. Preston Campbell (Gold Coast Titans): Certificate III and IV in Youth Work, 2008 Ken Stephen Medal winner, DEEWR Lean Earn Legend! education ambassador, creator of the NRL All Stars concept, NAIDOC Sportsperson of the Year, acting club captain.

7. Robbie Farah (Wests Tigers): Bachelor of Commerce, Sydney University, restaurant owner, NRL education ambassador, founder of ?Mates on a Mission? charity, club captain.

8. Corey Payne (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs): Bachelor of Commerce (accounting and commercial law majors), University of Sydney, studying Masters of Commerce (Finance), Graduate of Australian Institute of Company Directors management, recipient of 2011 University of Sydney Young Alumni achievement award, Future Direction Network Director, NRL education ambassador.

9. Matt Ballin (Manly Sea Eagles): Studying Bachelor of Education at ACPE, qualified personal trainer and has started his own company MBF (Matt Ballin Fitness), NRL education ambassador.

10. Jason King (Manly Sea Eagles): Studying Bachelor of Business /Law at Macquarie University, NRL education ambassador, club co-captain.

11. Ben Creagh (St George Illawarra Dragons): Studying Bachelor of Commerce at Wollongong University, NRL education ambassador.

12. Paul Gallen (Cronulla Sharks): Qualified plumber, Certificate IV in Financial Planning, Certificate of Registration in Real Estate, Diploma of Management, former part-owner of Mortgage Choice franchise, club captain.

13. Andrew Ryan (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs): Studying Bachelor of Sports Business at ACPE, qualified landscaper and business owner, club captain, NRL education ambassador and newly appointed NRL Education and Welfare Officer.

14. Bryan Norrie (Melbourne Storm): Certificate III in Hospitality, in Fitness and in Sport and Recreation, completing electrician apprenticeship, NRL education ambassador.

15. Ashley Graham (North Queensland Cowboys): Certificate III in Sports Administration, studying Bachelor of Sports and Exercise Science at James Cook University, made a member of university?s Golden Key Society for being in top 15% of students, NRL and QLD Govt education and physical activity ambassador.

16. Michael Weyman (St George Illawarra Dragons): Diploma in Business, studying Certificate IV in Civil Construction, NRL Education Ambassador.

17. Nick Kenny (Brisbane Broncos): Bachelor of Physiotherapy, Broncos Toyota Cup physio, NRL education ambassador, Certificate IV in Small Business, presently studying occupational health and safety course.

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NRL CEO David Gallop said?These players represent what can be achieved both on and off the field and what opportunities are available through rugby league to build careers,

?Each of them will tell you that the studies and training they have pursued has helped make them better footballers and better people and that?s an important lesson for any aspiring NRL players to take on board.

?I also want to acknowledge the work of Mark Coyne and his committee, Paul Heptonstall, Nigel Vagana, Jane Lowder and Tony McFadyen and all the club welfare and education officers.

?The programs and opportunities they have developed and the way the players have embraced them has changed the face of the game.?

Chairman of the NRL-RPLA education and welfare committee, former international, Maroons and Dragons star Mark Coyne added ?There has been a fundamental shift in the way players prepare for life after footy. Once the players who were studying and working used to be the exceptions, now it is the ones who are not that are in the minority,?.

Source: http://globalrugbyleague.net/?p=682

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