Senior Men's Rugby Academy | Bishop Burton College

Bishop Burton College’s Men’s Rugby Union Academy has competed in BUCS rugby for over ten years, earning multiple promotions and three seasons in Premier North 1. The team currently plays in BUCS Northern Tier 1, competing against universities including Liverpool, Durham and Northumbria. This gives student-athletes the opportunity to play high-performance university rugby while continuing their academic studies at Bishop Burton College.

The academy is designed for students who want to combine academic study with a structured rugby performance programme, supported by professional coaching and regular competitive match play.

The Men’s Rugby Union Academy has achieved sustained success within BUCS rugby, including successive promotions between 2009 and 2015 and winning the BUCS Rugby Union Trophy in 2016. A number of former students have progressed into professional and international rugby, demonstrating clear pathways beyond college and university study.

Rugby training

Players are supported through a high-quality rugby performance programme that is balanced with their academic commitments.

In a typical week, academy players receive:

Three on-field training sessions, focusing on individual, unit and team skill development
Three strength and conditioning sessions, delivered by experienced performance staff
Full-time medical support
Video analysis to support technical and tactical understanding
Team meetings
Additional one-to-one sessions to develop game knowledge and individual performance

Medical Support

Players across all academy teams have access to dedicated medical and performance support both on and off the pitch. The medical team includes graduate sport rehabilitators, sports therapists and a dedicated strength and conditioning coach who works with players in the gym.

The academy uses advanced equipment to support treatment, rehabilitation and performance monitoring, including:

Game Ready Pro 2.0, which uses cold therapy and compression to help reduce swelling following injury
ActivForce 2, which provides live feedback on force production during movement to support return-to-play decisions
VALD force plates, which measure force output to help adjust rehabilitation programmes and assess readiness to return
Blood-flow restriction cuffs, which allow players to train at reduced load while still achieving strength gains, supporting recovery and reducing the risk of further injury

All medical staff are registered with their governing bodies, including BASRaT or SST, and hold current pre-hospital trauma qualifications. This ensures players receive a high standard of medical care during training and competition.

Dedicated accommodation for the squad

Men’s rugby academy players have access to dedicated on-site student accommodation, providing an environment that supports both training and academic study. Living alongside teammates helps players settle quickly and build strong squad connections.

The accommodation is located close to academic buildings, sports facilities and the gym, allowing players to balance training, study and recovery efficiently.

Residential study is recommended to get the most from the academy experience, but it is not essential.

Live On Campus

Academy Fees and What’s Included

All non-residential players are required to pay a £99 fee to secure their place in the Men’s Football Academy.

This fee includes:

Coached Strength and Conditioning sessions
Access to Academy Sport Therapists
Travel to away fixtures throughout the season
Full Gold Gym membership for the academic year

Payment is due by Monday 7 September 2026 and can be made via our online shop.

Scholarships

Sports scholarships may be available to support eligible players within the Men’s Rugby Union Academy. Scholarships are designed to help students balance their academic studies with rugby training and competition.

Availability and criteria vary. Students are encouraged to discuss scholarship opportunities as part of the application process.

Entry requirements

All players must first be accepted onto a course at University Centre Bishop Burton before being considered for the Men’s Rugby Union Academy.

University Centre Courses

Case Studies

Joey Barratt

“I have studied and lived at Bishop Burton College 6 years now, through both my college and university years. I truly believe that Bishop Burton College is one of the best institutions to develop young athletes. The skills I have learnt on the pitch, in the classroom and around campus, will stay with me throughout my life!

Bishop Burton has provided me with the best opportunities to develop, as a player and as a person. This has been shown throughout my years at the college, starting my journey in the college’s Development XV to becoming captain of the University 1 XV, playing National league rugby union with Hull RUFC, whilst completing my BSc(Hons) Strength & Conditioning degree”.

John “Ant” McCormack

Bishop Burton College - HNC Sport Exercise Science - Hull RUFC - Scotland U19

“I have enjoyed my time here at Bishop Burton College. We lived as a squad and built a strong bond as a team very quickly. There was plenty of time between studies and training so that we were able to plan, organise and focus our days properly”.

Meet the coaches

Mike Umaga

Director of Rugby

The Bishop Burton College rugby academies are led by Mike Umaga, Director of Rugby. Mike is a former professional rugby union and rugby league player who represented Samoa at two Rugby World Cups.

Mike has more than 20 years’ coaching experience across junior age groups, national competitions, championship and premiership leagues, as well as at international level. He is a Level 4 qualified coach with extensive expertise in long-term player development.

Through Mike’s strong professional network within the rugby world, students have access to a range of playing and development pathways, both in the UK and internationally.

Tony Penn

Forwards Coach

Tony Penn brings extensive playing and coaching experience to the Men’s Rugby Union Academy. He is a former Taranaki, Wellington Hurricanes, and New Zealand Māori representative, having played at loosehead prop.

Following his playing career, Tony moved into coaching roles within professional rugby. He has worked with his home province of Taranaki as Forwards Coach and was also part of the coaching team at the Waikato Chiefs Super Rugby franchise, supporting skills development under then Head Coach Colin Cooper.

Partnered with England Rugby

Bishop Burton College is a recognised partner of England Rugby and one of only eight colleges in the UK selected for this role. As a flagship college, Bishop Burton upholds a safe, inclusive and player-centred approach across its rugby programmes.

The college uses RFU RugbySafe coach and match official training programmes to upskill players and coaches, ensuring best practice is followed in training and competition. This partnership supports the creation of a safe, supportive and enjoyable rugby environment.

Player development sits at the heart of the rugby programme, with a strong focus on supporting young people throughout their college journey. Rugby is used as a vehicle to develop positive behaviours, leadership skills and personal responsibility both on and off the field.

Apply now

To express your interest in joining our men's rugby academy or to find out more, please contact:

Mike Umaga, Director of Rugby: mike.umaga@bishopburton.ac.uk

Senior Men’s Rugby Union Academy – Bishop Burton College