UCLan Sports Arena is official training venue for national team
The Scotland Rugby League team has made Preston its home for the next few weeks as the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) becomes a training camp for the national side.
UCLan Sports Arena is the official training venue for the 24 strong squad during its Four Nations tournament campaign against Australia, England and New Zealand.
The team is using the Arena’s rugby pitches and strength and conditioning suite as part of their rigorous training schedule, as well as taking advantage of the University’s Physiotherapy Clinic for treatment and sports massage from UCLan’s sports therapy students. The squad is staying at the nearby Marriott Hotel and are also using UCLan’s Westleigh Conference Centre for other training sessions.
Steve McCormack, Head Coach, said: “UCLan is a great base for our Four Nations camp. The facilities are very good and everyone that we have worked with has been very supportive. Also being able to use the Westleigh Conference Centre as our base has added to the experience for everyone involved.”
UCLan is no stranger to working with Scotland Rugby League having already hosted a Student Development Day in October, this will be followed by a student trial match next week at the Arena to choose players for the Sydney 2017 Student Rugby League World Cup. Several key staff are also alumni of the University with Steve McCormack and Assistant Head Coach Dave Rotheram both completing UCLan’s Postgraduate Diploma in Elite Coaching Practice and other backroom staff graduating with related sports degrees.
UCLan Sports Arena was also an official host venue for the 2013 Rugby League World Cup with Ireland and Fiji basing themselves at UCLan Sports Arena.
"UCLan is a great base for our Four Nations camp. The facilities are very good and everyone that we have worked with has been very supportive."
Dr Bryan Jones, Principal Lecturer in Coaching and Performance at UCLan, commented: “It’s fantastic that once again we can open up our first-class training facilities to professional athletes to prepare for such an important tournament.
“Not only does it provide an ideal training ground for the players, but it allows UCLan’s sports students to gain some hand-on experience working with the team and hopefully Scotland Rugby League’s presence will help to build up the profile of rugby league in Lancashire.”
Scotland will play England this Saturday at Ricoh Arena in Coventry followed by a trip to Workington to face New Zealand on Friday 11 November. The Four Nations Tournament final will be played at Anfield on Sunday 20 November.
View images from the players' training session on the UCLan Flickr Gallery.