SUCCESS STORY: Adam converts Myerscough qualification into rugby career

Adam Brocklebank only started playing rugby at the age of 17, having opted to study a Level 3 BTEC Diploma in Rugby Studies with Myerscough. Since then, he’s become one of a long line of success stories for the Academy, with Adam going on to make his first team debut for Aviva Premiership side, Newcastle Falcons, as well as an international call up for the England Students squad.

Adam said: “I didn’t really do much sport at all, then my mum was like, you need to do something. My nearest sports club was a rugby club. So I went to that rugby club and absolutely loved it.

‘’At Myerscough I got the grades I needed to go up to Durham University. I got a scholarship up there and that’s where I wanted to be heading.

“At the end of my two years at Myerscough it was a great experience; I couldn’t have thought of a better place, with just the lads and the coaches. It’s just one big family.

After graduating from Myerscough College, 21-year-old Adam, who hails from Liverpool, moved to the North-East to become a Sports Science degree student at Durham University, where he caught the eye of both England and Newcastle Falcons in a dramatic rise through the ranks.

Adam, who as well as his studies is part of the Falcons Academy, was then named as a replacement in the Newcastle Falcons side that played Saracens in the Anglo-Welsh Cup late last year.

‘’I got a call from my Falcons coach saying that they’d like to involve me in the squad on the weekend against Saracens.  It was a dream, playing in front of all those people. I absolutely loved it. It gives you that desire and hunger to keep working hard.”

Adam adds: ‘’“The experience of getting selected in the England squad was amazing news to get. It’s quite an experience. As a group we came together quite well, and that was helped on by the coaches. I’ll remember it for quite some time.

“I don’t know how far I’ll go. I’d like to go all the way, and maybe if I keep my head down, keep trying hard, maybe something will come of it.

“I’ve got my qualifications to fall back on, I’ve got something there to carry on and do the rest of my life. That’s really important. If you can juggle both, definitely do it. It gives you that comfort, so when you’re playing rugby you’ve not got that stress of, what am I doing after rugby, or if I get injured in next week’s game, what am I going to do with myself?

“It’s a very quick progressing through the ranks. I’ve enjoyed every minute of it so far and hopefully I’ll keep progressing.”

Myerscough College Rugby Academy Head Coach, Steve Gough, says two years at Myerscough helps a young player on his journey to becoming a professional: ‘’It’s great to see Adam going from strength to strength.’’

“The RFU brought the AASE programme in a few years ago which is based on enhancing elite performance alongside education. They are training as professionals but are also getting a qualification. All the guys here train every week and every day throughout the week. They’re the best prepared that we can have.

“When they leave here they go with good skills, good strengths and communication and they have all the grounding to make it. What they do when they leave is entirely up to them. We give them the tools and it’s up to them how they use them.”