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Rugby league great Sinfield masters off-field challenge
Sinfield, who is the highest points-scorer in the club’s history and the top points-scorer of the Super League era, has spent the last three years studying alongside his playing commitments and is delighted to be graduating.
Speaking about his studies at Leeds Beckett, Kevin said: “It’s great to graduate – the MA Sport Business course has been fantastic. It’s covered everything I would have liked with a view to what I’m hoping to do when I finish playing. The sport business subject area really ticked all the boxes and the support and guidance I’ve had has been brilliant.”
The Rhinos captain is well-rehearsed in picking up awards – Sinfield has led his club to six Super League titles, one Challenge Cup and three World Club Challenge crowns. He admits though, that his course has had its tough moments: “It’s been a long road, a challenging three years, and I’ve enjoyed the experience, it’s been worth every minute. Any qualification like this is demanding, regardless of whether you’re full-time or part-time, but to do it part-time and have a full-time job running alongside it is really tough. Time management and balancing your life are important.”
The former England captain, who was awarded an MBE in 2014, is a 2008 BSc (Hons) Sport and Exercise Science graduate of Leeds Beckett and has a message for other Leeds Beckett students stepping up to collect their degrees from the University this summer.
“To all the other graduates I’d just like to congratulate them. Have a couple of down weeks I’d suggest and then get yourself ready for what comes next, whether it be further education or getting into a job. Go for it.”
He added: “My course has been very tough, but really enjoyable and I’d certainly recommend it to everyone out there.”
Sinfield is the latest in a growing list of high-profile graduates from Leeds Beckett. Piers Agget and Kesi Dryden from the award-winning dance act Rudimental, lead singer of the Kaiser Chiefs Ricky Wilson, Olympic gold medal athlete Alistair Brownlee and London 2012 Olympic torch designer Edward Barber also studied at the University.
Kevin Sinfield was crowned the world’s finest rugby league player in 2012 when he was awarded the Golden Boot. He is one of only four English players to ever achieve this feat.
He is currently the third highest points-scorer in British rugby league history, behind Jim Sullivan and Neil Fox.
Sinfield will conclude his glittering rugby league career later this year when he switches codes to play for rugby union side Yorkshire Carnegie.