BSc (Hons) Rugby Coaching and Performance

You will gain an understanding of the varied, dynamic and constantly changing nature of rugby development. From grass roots community projects that engage people to take up rugby, to working with elite players who are at the top of their game.

Your studies will integrate theory and practical lectures with community rugby experience, so you’ll develop coaching, leadership and enterprise skills, and gain experience of working in the professional rugby industry.

You’ll study rugby coaching, refereeing, team management, sport psychology, strength and conditioning, performance analytics and fitness testing and evaluation. You will also have the opportunity to gain industry-recognised World Rugby and Welsh Rugby Union coaching and refereeing awards which are embedded into the practical coaching modules.

Year One: Rugby Coaching course

Your first year will provide you with the underpinning theory and practice of coaching young athletes via practical sessions and classroom-based lectures. You will gain knowledge of how grass roots rugby is organised and managed in the community, and you will have the opportunity to lead school and club activities and events like Tag festivals.

You will explore the fundamental principles of how young children learn sports skills. You will also have the opportunity to undertake coach education qualifications to boost your CV. Children’s Level 1 Coaching and Level 1 Refereeing qualifications are built into double rugby modules and paid for by the Welsh Rugby Union.

Introduction to performance Analysis for rugby coaching and performance - 20 credits - Ioan-Alexandru Paval

The aim of the module is to encourage an understanding of both theoretical and practical Camerawork/capture skills related to rugby union and other professional environments.

Rugby Coaching: Young Performers - 40 credits - Dean Parsons

The module will encourage participation and understanding of both theoretical and practical 'How to Coach" craft skills related to rugby union at key stage 1 and 2 children (5-12year of age) and cover the World Rugby/WRU International 'TAG Rugby', 'Introduction to Contact' and 'Level 1 Coaching Rugby Union' qualifications.

Academic Research and Professional Skills* - 20 credits - Dr. Stuart Jarvis

The aim of this module is to enable students to gain the fundamental social, interpersonal and academic building blocks for a vibrant and successful University experience.

Managing and Developing Rugby in the Community - 20 credits - Dean Parsons

This module provides students with the knowledge and networking opportunities to be able to establish and support WRU and Professional rugby regions community rugby initiatives. High profile guest lecturers from the rugby industry deliver key skills required to effectively manage dedicated rugby facilities and deliver successful community focused events.

Strength and Conditioning in Rugby Union - 20 credits - Peter Ashcroft

The module is designed to provide students with the theoretical and applied knowledge to be able to construct and deliver effective strength and conditioning sessions with rugby union.

*This module is available to study fully in Welsh

Year Two: Rugby Coaching course

You will develop your knowledge of coaching and leadership principles and approaches to developing and managing rugby with adolescent groups. You will study barriers to rugby and gain experience of running enterprising events and completing a community rugby placement. This year will expand your understanding of the different career options available to you.

Rugby Coaching: Adolescent Performers - 40 credits - Dean Parsons

The module will cover both theoretical and practical “What to coach” skills related to rugby union at primary, junior level (12-17 years of age) and cover the WRU Level 2 Coaching Rugby Union course. 

Research Methods - 20 credits - Stuart Jarvis

This will build on the student’s understanding of research methods and broaden and deepen your appreciation of the range of approaches to research using research for both qualitative and quantitative methods.

Sport Placement - 20 credits - Dean Parsons

Students will be provided with the opportunity to conduct their work-related experience within a number of key vocational areas related to the sports industry.

Physical Education and School Sport - 20 credits (optional) - Chris Emsley

This module is designed to analyse the role of the PE teacher and sports coach, both within Primary and Secondary education and offer an insight into the contemporary initiatives that focus on School Sport provision with an emphasis on Government involvement and/or intervention.

Rugby Performance Analysis - 20 credits - Ioan-Alexandru Paval

The module will develop the students' knowledge of performance analysis as a tool within the coaching process, in rugby union and introduce an understanding of measurement issues and information processing related to rugby union performance.

Weightlifting 20 Credits - (optional) - Nathan Evans

The module allows for the development of practical performance in all the lifts, along with the development of effective coaching progressions. Supporting this will be effective analysis and monitoring of performance, and the effective programming of weightlifting training.

Year Three: Rugby Coaching course

During this year, you can choose to undertake a placement for one or two days a week working with one of our partner sports organisations. Some of our current students are working with organisations such as WRU, Cardiff Rugby , Newport Gwent Dragons, the Ospreys and the Scarlets, Sports Development departments, schools and other sports organisations. This experience will enable you to enhance your CV and create a strong network within the rugby industry in the UK and overseas.

Applied Professional Project - 40 credits - Chris Emsley

This module aims to provide the student with a platform upon which they can enhance the effectiveness of their workplace experience and develop their vocational skills.

Dissertation - 40 credits - Stuart Jarvis

This will enable the student to design and conduct an independent study and to be able to critically evaluate scientific data and literature.

Rugby Coaching: Adult Performers - 40 credits - Dean Parsons

The module provides will provide students with an understanding of the underpinning Level coaching, teaching and instructing and the level 3 Rugby union technical definition and Assessment specification.

Strength and Conditioning - 20 credits (optional) -  Morgan Williams

The module will provide students with the underpinning scientific knowledge required to deliver effective strength and conditioning programs.

Work Based Learning* - 20 credits (optional) -  Dean Parsons

The module is designed to provide a platform upon which the learner can enhance the effectiveness of the workplace experience and reflect on these experiences.

Analysis in Rugby Coaching and Performance - 20 credits (optional) - Ioan-Alexandru Paval

The module will further develop the student's knowledge and understanding of the issues related to rugby analysis, the requirements of coaches, players, and other related professionals within the game of rugby union at academy and senior level.

Creatively Teaching Physical Education, Health and Wellbeing - 20 credits (optional) - Chris Emsley

The module will develop student’s professional teaching skills and subject knowledge of Physical Education, Health and Wellbeing topics arising from the National Curriculum to enable them to teach Physical Education, Health and Wellbeing.

*This module is available to study fully in Welsh

Learning and teaching methods include lectures, interactive workshops, practical sessions in the field and analysis suite., work-based learning, guest lectures (from industry professionals), debates and tutorials. This range of teaching and learning approaches ensures that you gain a wide variety of skills and the variety keeps you on the ball!

All lectures/modules are sport specific which you will attend with other sports students. Most lectures/tutorials will be fairly small groups (25-45) which provides a more interactive and personal approach to your study. Group work and class discussions help you to develop critical thinking skills and we encourage students to voice their opinion and challenge the norm. You will also have the opportunity to undertake voluntary coaching and sports leadership work with local partners.

Where possible, your timetable in your final year will be organised to give you at least two days off teaching to enable you to undertake a work-based placement with a club, region or NGB, meaning that you can balance your studies and gaining valuable experience during your year.

Most modules are studied over the year for 24 weeks (two 12-week terms); but some are delivered more intensively during a term.

Contact time varies over each year of study due to differences in modules, work placements and dissertation/project work in your final year. Average lecture contact time each year is as follows:

• Year One: 12 hours contact time (18 hours of independent study per week)
• Year Two: 10 hours (20 hours independent study per week)
• Year Three: 8-10 hours (15-20 hours independent study and 7-14 hours of placement per week – depending on module chosen)

In year two you will complete up to 300 hours of coaching via the work based learning, which is managed through weekly tutorials and a mentoring system. The work based learning environment will depend on your career aspirations and could be in coaching, strength and conditioning, fitness testing or performance analysis.

Our rugby course is assessed via a range of methods to ensure that you develop a number of different skills relevant to the rugby industry.

Assessment methods include:

• Written reports
• Presentations
• Practical rugby coaching assessments
• Work-based learning assessments
• Posters and leaflets
• Reflective blogs
• Team debates
• Rugby Management reports