New Zealand to Train at St Mary’s Ahead of Rugby League World Cup

The New Zealand Rugby Football League Team has chosen to base its training at St Mary’s University College, Twickenham this week ahead of the World Cup semi-finals at Wembley Stadium on Saturday 23^rd November. The reigning world champions, who are due to play England in the semi-finals were able to use the state-of-the-art training facilities at St Mary’s Strawberry Hill campus including a new strength and conditioning suite, training pitches and rehabilitation rooms. Along with team and individual training and rehabilitation sessions, coaches and players will be running a training session with the St Mary’s student Rugby League team. St Mary’s is a leader in sport and regularly hosts international teams and athletes during training. In 2012, it was home to more than 150 athletes from 10 countries as part of their Olympic and Paralympic pre-Games training camps. St Mary’s Director for Sport Andrew Reid-Smith commented, "New Zealand are an outstanding team and as defending champions are the title favourites.  St Mary's is used to hosting international squads and we will offer them an excellent training environment ahead of their World Cup semi-final.” Photo credit St Mary's Sports Journalism Student Justin Feck