NZRPA And Edinburgh Business School: Taking Care of Business - on And Off the Pitch
The New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association (NZRPA) and Edinburgh Business School have joined forces to offer players,
past and present, access to the most flexible business education programme in the world.
The Edinburgh Business School MBA (Master in Business Administration) is the most popular worldwide, with 11,900 current
students and 18,500 alumni in 160 countries.
The NZRPA is passionate about player personal development and already offers developing, professional and retired
players access to Programmes that support and challenge players to work on all aspects of their career including
education and work experience, finance and asset protection, professional rugby and character development.
The Edinburgh Business School MBA will enable players to study for a professional business qualification which will help
them in their careers during and post rugby. Studying with Edinburgh Business School offers numerous benefits: personal
and professional development, promotion or a change of career, a launch pad to starting their own business, global
networking opportunities with like-minded professionals, and a broader, deeper understanding of business issues.
The Edinburgh Business School MBA is delivered online so enables working professionals to study at their own pace, in
their own time, combining study with work, travel and family commitments. The players will therefore be able to combine
their studies with training and playing schedules, wherever they are in the world, enabling them to ‘earn while they
learn’.
David Gibson, former professional player and current NZPRA Player Services Manager, is so convinced of the benefits of
the programme he has already signed up to study:
“Whilst I was playing I completed a graduate diploma in business through the Personal Development Program and since
retiring I have been looking at a few options to continue on with my studies. Having seen what Edinburgh offer, how the
course operates and the support they provide, it ended up being quite an easy decision. I would encourage all players
who have an interest in this space to get in touch,” said David.
Also endorsing the programme is New Zealand legend and NZRPA Board Member Conrad Smith, already a qualified lawyer, who
will be playing in France during 2016.
“It is great to be able to have a study option at this level which is so flexible and this will make it appeal to many
players who are looking to extend their education,” said Conrad.
Malcolm Kinns, Regional Manager for Edinburgh Business School in Australia and New Zealand, says the MBA programme will
offer players new opportunities as they plan for life after their professional playing career:
“We are very excited to be working with the NZPRA to offer players and employees the opportunity to expand their
horizons through study. Our programme is perfect for those who need flexibility and is therefore popular with working
professionals from all walks of life and particularly for sports people and those who travel and have unpredictable
schedules.”
Rugby players currently undertaking the EBS MBA include current Wallaby and NSW Waratahs hooker Tatafu Polota-Nau, Luke
Morahan, who plays Super Rugby for the Western Force and has one cap for the Wallabies, as well as former Scotland
centre Nick De Luca who plays for Biarritz in France.
Participants undertaking the EBS MBA through the NZPRA scheme will receive a scholarship towards their course fees and
have the option of one-to-one mentoring throughout the programme.
ENDS