Rugby Union

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TITANS OF

BUCS SUPER RUGBY union

Leeds Beckett University Rugby Union club offers elite level pathways if you're looking to compete at a high standard as well as study and get your degree. We have a strong programme with six clubs available, including our BUCS Super Rugby Union team.

Leeds Beckett has been part of the BUCS Super Rugby Union programme since the competition first launched in 2016. BUCS Super Rugby Union is the top competition for university rugby in the United Kingdom and includes the ten top university rugby teams in the country.

We are currently looking to improve on a stellar 2018/19 campaign which saw lots of great moments for our team, including:

Reaching the BUCS Super Rugby Union final at Twickenham
Finish fourth in the league
Becoming the first team to secure an 11 game unbeaten run in the competition
Being crowned BUCS Sevens Champions

meet our team

Our team includes former Wales international Colin Stephens as Director of Rugby Union, and Kerry Wood as Programme Manager and Head Coach.

MEET OUR DIRECTOR OF RUGBY UNION Colin Stephens

The work with the university is fantastically rewarding. The standard is good and it is huge to see players develop during their time with us.

DIRECTOR profile

Leeds Beckett Director of Rugby Colin Stephens has been part of the programme at the university since 2005 and oversaw the team’s victory in 2015 in the BUCS Rugby Championship final. Colin and Rugby Programme Manager Kerry Wood have worked hard to grow the BUCS Super Rugby programme at LBU, which continues to grow from strength to strength each season.

During his playing days, Colin was a professional fly half for Llanelli, Leeds Tykes and was selected to play for Wales.

One of his career highs came in 1992, where he made his debut for Wales and was man-of-the-match in Scarlets’ historical 13-9 win over then world-champions Australia, a game which saw him kick two crucial drop goals.

Colin Stephens, Director of Rugby Union

MEET OUR HEAD COACH Kerry Wood

My mindset on life is Kia Kaha Mauria te pono which means stand strong, be strong, believe in yourself.

coach profile

Leeds Beckett Rugby Programme Manager Kerry Wood has been with the university since 2016, working with Director of Rugby Colin Stephens. Kerry, along with Colin, oversees the rugby pathway at Leeds Beckett and is the head coach of the BUCS Super Rugby team. The pair, along with their coaching support staff, guide the players’ development in the programme, from the BUCS Super Rugby team to the emerging squads.

The New Zealand native moved to the UK 14 years ago and has coached for the last 13 years, of which he spent five years as a player coach, and he is also a qualified joiner.

Kerry Wood, Rugby Programme Manager and Head Coach

Everything you need to know

Train to be the best

The BUCS Super Rugby squad benefit from dedicated coaching staff as well as full time medical and strength & conditioning staff to help with player development.

Players will get exclusive access to the rugby staff as well as dedicated training sessions, on the field and in the gym, video review sessions and other activities that you would expect from a professional rugby club.

All training is scheduled around your studies, taking up around 15-20 hours of your time weekly, spread over four to five days including evening and weekends.

example training schedule

Monday: Strength and conditioning training 07:15-09:00 | field session 18:00-20:00
Tuesday: Rest day | individual review with coaches
Wednesday: Game day
Thursday: Pool recovery
Friday: Strength and conditioning training 07:15-09:00 | review / field session 17:00-19:00
Saturday: Strength and conditioning training 08:00-10:00
Sunday: Rest day

RECOGNISING INTERNATIONAL SPORTING EXCELLENCE

carnegie sports scholarship: rugby union

To qualify for the Carnegie Sports Scholarship, applicants must not only showcase exceptional sporting achievements but also embody the core values of Leeds Beckett University.

Successful undergraduate recipients will receive a £6,000 annual scholarship. Postgraduate recipients will receive a 50% discount on postgraduate taught fees.

To view full Scholarship information for your sport, click below.

carnegie sports scholarship