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Justin Hall
Research Assistant
Justin is a PhD Researcher and Associate Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, as well as a Rugby Coach at Otley Rugby Club. His research focuses on the psychology of substance use in elite rugby league and union.
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About
Justin is a PhD Researcher and Associate Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, as well as a Rugby Coach at Otley Rugby Club. His research focuses on the psychology of substance use in elite rugby league and union.
Justin is a PhD Researcher and Associate Lecturer in Sport and Exercise Psychology, as well as a Rugby Coach at Otley Rugby Club. His research focuses on the psychology of substance use in elite rugby league and union.
Justin completed his undergraduate degree in Sport and Exercise Science at Leeds Beckett University in 2019, before beginning a PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology. Alongside his supervisory team of Dr Laurie Patterson and Professor Susan Backhouse, His research looks at better understanding the use of prohibited substances (performance-enhancing and substances of abuse) in elite rugby league and union.
Justin is part of the Sport and Exercise Psychology lecturing team within the Carnegie School of Sport, and has contributed to teaching across a range of modules and courses, including being Module Leader for Level 5 Psychosocial Development for Elite Sport Performance on the BSc Science of Sport Performance module in 2022.
A former rugby union player representing Leeds Beckett University, Justin now coaches in National League Rugby with Otley Rugby Club, having begun his coaching career in 2019 with Leeds Beckett.
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Research interests
Justin's primary area of research is on the psychology of substance use amongst rugby league and union. His interests span across psychology, with a specific recent focus on social psychology, and the social identity approach to explain culture and collective behaviour within and between groups. His research is looking to help inform education, policy and practice for National Governing Bodies such as the Rugby Football League and Rugby Football Union, as well as UK Anti-Doping.
Publications (3)
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Triathlon: A Sport of Gender Equality?
2025
World Triathlon Triathlon: A Sport of Gender Equality
Norman L, Hall J, Marks K, Petersen-Wagner R, Simpson R 30 June 2025
Performance Enhancement and Health13(2):1-8 Elsevier
Objective: Understanding the lived experiences of athletes who have been sanctioned for violating anti-doping rules presents the opportunity to listen and learn. Yet, the academic field seldom draws on the voices of those affected when considering doping in sport. Our aim was to illuminate important aspects of sanctioned athletes’ experiences and highlight opportunities for prevention and rehabilitation. Design: A semi-structured interview research design was used, and data informed the development of composite vignettes, a form of creative non-fiction. Method: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with two elite rugby players sanctioned for violating the anti-doping rules within rugby league (n=1) and rugby union (n=1). Three composite vignettes were created illuminating player experiences before, during and after the violations. Findings: The vignettes highlight in participants’ own words the multiple impacts of sport demands and drug use: (1) Leading up to the violation: ‘You’re just treading water, you’re surviving’ (2) ‘There’s just this massive amount of social pressure in rugby, not just on the game, but on who you’re supposed to be’ (3) ‘It was like being hit by a train’. The ADRV aftermath. Conclusions: The role of social identity in the transitions experienced by a rugby player following a critical incident (e.g., serious injury) was a key influencing factor for doping. Alongside addressing the demands of the sport, the need for early intervention and evidence-based support for players experiencing critical incidents (e.g., injury) and transitions was evident to prevent doping violations.
Current teaching
- BSc Sport and Exercise Science
- BSc Sport and Exercise Nutrition
- BSc Science of Sport Performance
