A sport student at the University Centre at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group has been selected by England to play in the International Rugby League 2023.
Tyler Dupree, who is currently studying Applied Sports Performance, will make his debut for England later this year after been chosen by England Rugby League’s Head Coach Shaun Wane.
Tyler said: “Being selected to play for England is an extremely proud moment for both me and my family and demonstrates how hard I’ve worked in the last 12 months.Playing professional rugby and studying for a degree can be a challenging, but a challenge that will be extremely worthwhile in the end. Whilst this is a dream come true for me, I know that sporting careers are only short, so I was determined to not give up on my education.”
“My degree is teaching me about recovery and performance in sport, which I can apply to my training and when playing for my team Salford Red Devils. It has also helped me to improve my nutrition, as well as other aspects of my training, and I’m extremely grateful to my tutors for this knowledge and support,” added Tyler.
Tyler currently plays prop for Salford Red Devils and was recently nominated their Player of the Month for March.
Tyler started on a six-year scholarship with Salford Red Devils in 2016 and has also played for the likes of Leeds Rhinos, York City Knights, Featherstone Rovers, Batley Bulldogs, Oldham and Widnes Vikings.
Amy O’Keefe, Head of Sport at the Heart of Yorkshire Education Group, said: “We’re incredibly proud of Tyler and all that he has achieved, both academically and in his professional rugby career. He is always eager to expand his knowledge and skillset and it’s great to see him applying what he’s learning through his degree to his game, helping him to constantly grow and improve as a player.
“In addition to Tyler, a number of our Applied Sports Performance students are playing professional sport for teams such as Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity. This demonstrates the flexibility of our programme and how it can lay the foundations for students to build successful careers in the sports industry,” added Amy.
Following his studies, former Applied Sports Performance student Mark Applegarth has also gone on to secure the role of Head Coach at Wakefield Trinity.
The degree-level course enables learners to develop the skills to improve their individual performance or the performance of others in sport. This includes supporting professional sports people, sports teams, community teams, or school groups.