Four of the Bears from the UON Men’s Rugby Union Team have been selected for the Elite Athlete Scholarship Scheme at the University of Northampton.
This programme provides them with the fundamentals of professional sport, including sports science & performance testing, strength & conditioning, physiotherapy, sports psychology, nutritional advice, and media training.
Jacob Solonga and Oscar Chapman are on their second year of the scholarship, with Ben Lazenby and Joe Osivwemu being new to the programme this year.
Centre Jacob Solonga said: “I got the scholarship last year and this year as well so I’m very fortunate.
“My first year here I didn’t know anybody, so when I came here for the scholarship from Hong Kong, I made a lot of good friends.
“The scholarship has helped me a lot as it helps me to balance my sport with my academic life.”
Solonga is currently studying an MSE in physiotherapy, so he has a lot of experience surrounding the additional needs of an athlete, both as a physiotherapist and a sportsman.
“I recently had a neck injury, so the sports rehab team really helped me out with some massage and stretching.
“Having a background in sports therapy has really benefitted me, so it’s really good to get that service and nice to see people doing the job with the same background as me.”
Despite the team receiving weekly S&C sessions, Solonga believes they would all benefit from having access to the full range of support offered within the scholarship programme.
“We only have about 20 scholarship athletes and I think for a sports team, such as rugby, having access to the whole programme would really help them.
“They do struggle and need some help as well, so I think that the uni should help out by giving them all access to this type of service.
“This programme has been helpful to me as an athlete, and I would really recommend if any students or rugby guys are interested in getting the balance right between their sport and overall life, the scheme is really beneficial and I think they should join if given the chance.”
With four athletes currently on the elite athlete scheme, rugby is the most represented sport on the scholarship programme.
The ongoing support from the team behind the team is giving the Bears high hopes for a successful season ahead.