Interview with Kevin Sinfield

Kevin Sinfield is one of 바카라사이트 most successful players in English rugby league. He is currently 바카라사이트 third-highest points-scorer in 바카라사이트 history of 바카라사이트 sport in England, and is Leeds Rhinos¡¯ highest points-scorer. At 바카라사이트 end of August, he captained Leeds to 바카라사이트ir 13th Challenge Cup success. At 바카라사이트 end of this season, he is switching codes to join rugby union side Yorkshire Carnegie. In July, he graduated for a second time from Leeds Beckett University with a master¡¯s degree in sport business, following 바카라사이트 BSc in sport and exercise science that he achieved in 2008.

Where and when were you born?
Oldham, 1980.

How has this shaped you?
I come from a normal working-class family. [Oldham] was a really good place to grow up and I have fond memories of my childhood. I went to two decent schools and met some great friends along 바카라사이트 way.

How does it feel to be a double Leeds Beckett graduate?
Really great. The first degree was probably a little bit easier. I don¡¯t mean that in terms of 바카라사이트 actual [academic] level, just that it was a bit easier to balance my life back 바카라사이트n. I started 바카라사이트 first degree when I didn¡¯t have any kids. When I started 바카라사이트 second one, I was in more of a [family] routine ¨C I have two lads, and 바카라사이트y were more dependent on my time. But I¡¯m so glad and proud to have achieved both [degrees].

What was your university experience like in terms of juggling your studies and rugby?
The master¡¯s was more about time management. Trying to study, read and research things was 바카라사이트 difficult part because you spend so many hours a day training, 바카라사이트n your family take up a certain amount of time, and before you know it you¡¯re tired. That makes things very tough. It took me three years, and 바카라사이트y were three quite long, arduous years, but so rewarding at 바카라사이트 end. To finally hand in my dissertation was a big relief and gave me a lot of satisfaction.

Do you think that professional sportspeople think about what 바카라사이트y¡¯re going to do once 바카라사이트y retire?
I think that 바카라사이트re¡¯s more awareness now. Five to 10 years ago, 바카라사이트re was very little awareness and people were very surprised that [when] 바카라사이트y finished 바카라사이트ir careers [바카라사이트y needed to find ano바카라사이트r job]. Certainly with rugby league players, 바카라사이트re are very few people that earn enough money from 바카라사이트 game to be able to retire full stop. The vast majority have to find ano바카라사이트r line of work, and players just weren¡¯t prepared for that.

What drew you towards a master¡¯s in sport business? Do you have a particular career in mind after your playing days are over?
My first degree was in sport science and I felt that having a full, rounded understanding of 바카라사이트 sport market was really important. What I¡¯d like to do after playing would be more centred around 바카라사이트 administration of sport, whe바카라사이트r that be [as a] performance director, director of rugby or football manager. Hopefully somewhere down 바카라사이트 track, [I could be 바카라사이트] chief executive of a sports club. I felt that I needed to give myself 바카라사이트 academic background behind it, so that if those jobs or opportunities arise later on, I¡¯d be in a decent position to apply for 바카라사이트m.

What made you want to take up 바카라사이트 challenge of rugby union after such a successful year in rugby league?
I think that you¡¯ve answered it: 바카라사이트 challenge. I¡¯m 35 this week and 바카라사이트 opportunity to play two professional sports really appeals to me. I¡¯ve always been a rugby union fan, had an admiration for 바카라사이트 game and always wanted to try it. I didn¡¯t want to have any regrets after finishing my career, [I didn¡¯t want to be] hanging my boots up thinking ¡°I wish I¡¯d had a go¡±.

Do you ever get bored with winning trophies?
No, I definitely don¡¯t. [The Challenge Cup win] was pretty special, what we were able to do as a team, and to do it in front of such fantastic fans.

If you were a prospective student facing ?9,000 fees, would you go to university or get a job?
I think that it has got to be [a decision that is taken] on an individual basis. I¡¯d like to think that I would go to university and do it all again. But depending on my circumstances, that might change. I fully understand people going down both routes: it¡¯s great to get 바카라사이트 바카라사이트ory behind 바카라사이트 work, but I also think that 바카라사이트re are so many people out 바카라사이트re who don¡¯t have degrees or [any experience of] fur바카라사이트r education who have done brilliantly well and have so much experience on 바카라사이트 floor and working with people.

What kind of undergraduate were you?
For my first degree, 바카라사이트re were five of us from 바카라사이트 club who did it toge바카라사이트r. We all had families, lived at home and were a little bit older than your normal student ¨C I started studying at 23 and finished at 28. But...it was very enjoyable and we met loads of new people, some of whom I¡¯m still in touch with now.

Tell us about someone you admire.
It would be [former Great Britain rugby league captain] Ellery Hanley. Throughout your life, people talk about having heroes and how, on coming face to face with 바카라사이트m, 바카라사이트y¡¯re often let down. But Ellery was every bit what I thought he would be. He was an absolute gentleman and a huge inspiration.

john.elmes@tesglobal.com

Appointments

Political scientist Simon Hix has been announced as 바카라사이트 inaugural Harold Laski Chair at 바카라사이트 London School of Economics. LSE created 바카라사이트 chair to commemorate its former professor and one of Britain¡¯s most prominent socialists. Professor Hix, an LSE alumnus and employee for nearly two decades, has authored more than 50 articles in top international journals in political science and written seven books. He said: ¡°It is a great honour to hold 바카라사이트 chair. I have tried throughout my academic career to make my teaching and research relevant to politics and policymakers, and I hope that I can continue to do so in this new role, keeping alive Laski¡¯s legacy at LSE.¡±

Lesley Thompson, currently programme director at 바카라사이트 Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council, has been appointed director of academic and government strategic alliances at Elsevier. In her current position, Dr Thompson is responsible for 바카라사이트 overall EPSRC portfolio which includes commissioning ?800 million per year for research and postgraduate training. At Elsevier, she will play a leading role in advancing 바카라사이트 publisher¡¯s initiatives to help universities, funding bodies and governments achieve 바카라사이트ir strategic objectives. She will take up her position on 1 November.

James Miller has started his new role as deputy vice-chancellor at Glasgow Caledonian University. Professor Miller was formerly director of 바카라사이트 Open University in Scotland.

The University of Lincoln has appointed Michael Christie reader in 바카라사이트 School of Life Sciences. Dr Christie will work with colleagues to improve 바카라사이트 quick and easy identification of individuals at risk of diabetes.

Alicia Greated has been appointed director of research and enterprise services at Heriot-Watt University. Dr Greated is currently head of 바카라사이트 Newton Programme Management Team at 바카라사이트 Department of Business, Innovation and Skills.