News
Stephen Ferris to Mentor Students as New Ambassador for Belfast Met Rugby Academy
Former Irish Rugby Union player Stephen Ferris has signed up as an ambassador to mentor and help develop the potential in students at Belfast Met’s Rugby Academy.
Now in its fifth year, the Rugby Academy is the leading sports academy in Northern Ireland for post GCSE students who wish to pursue a career in playing, coaching or back room support in Rugby. It provides a unique opportunity to gain an internationally recognised qualification while gaining access to top class coaching and training facilities. The two-year full-time programme is equivalent to three A Levels.
Nathan Moore who coordinates the Belfast Met Rugby Academy, said: “I am really delighted that Stephen has come on-board, the students will learn so much from him not just in terms of their game but also what it takes to make it to the top of the industry like he has. Stephen has had the same journey as some of our academy students, in that he decided to move from a Grammar School to continue his A-Level education at a Further Education college. He then went on to play at every professional level and the highest accolade there is with the British & Irish Lions. It’s due to this, that we feel he is the perfect ambassador to work with our students, who come from either the local club or grammar school environments, as Stephen has experience of all these backgrounds. The Rugby Academy is a great route for those wanting to progress in some format of the game and also get their Further and Higher Education qualifications. The Academy has successfully produced a number of Ulster Senior and Irish Age-Grade Rugby players. We have recently brought in state-of-the-art sports analytics technology which is another reason to join the academy – there are so many routes to go down in this sport in addition to playing.”
Stephen, who has played for Ulster and represented Ireland internationally along with the British and Irish Lions, said:
“Being an ambassador for Belfast Met is something that I am very excited about. Hopefully I can pass on some of my life experiences from on and off the Rugby pitch to the young aspiring students. Nathan and the team are confident in the direction things are moving and it’s brilliant to be a part of it.”
Come along to Belfast Met’s Clearing Days on 30th August and 5th September from 9am to 1pm in the Titanic Quarter Campus to find out more information