May 19, 2014

Scholarship helps young rugby league player combine study and sport

Illawarra junior rugby league player Brendan Woods won’t have to worry about the cost of text books during his first year of study at UOW as this year’s recipient of the Col Purcell Centenary Scholarship.

Brendan represents the region at one of the highest levels of rugby league with the Illawarra SG Ball team and this year began studying exercise science and rehabilitation full-time at UOW. Brendan, who trains three nights a week and travels to Sydney or the Central Coast to play for the Illawarra, said the scholarship means he can make sport and study his priority. 

“The scholarship has taken the pressure off me having to work on the weekends, so I can concentrate on studying and don’t have to worry so much,” Brendan said. 

The Illawarra Junior Rugby League Centenary Committee has set aside $20,000 to maintain the scholarship, which is awarded to a qualified Illawarra Junior Rugby League player or junior referee in their first year of study at UOW on an annual basis.

Committee Chairman Bob Millward said the scholarship recognises local talented junior rugby league players and aims to encourage them to pursue further education. 

“Our aim is to have talented young rugby league players not neglect their studies while in pursuit of sporting opportunities. This scholarship will act as motivation in this regard,” Mr Millward said, adding that the inaugural scholarship recipient, Zacary Baker, proved to be an excellent student at UOW. 

Director of the Office of Advancement at UOW, Ms Monique Harper-Richardson, said the scholarship was a great resource for young rugby league players in the region who were considering furthering their education. 

“The University and the Illawarra Junior Rugby League are committed to helping these young players to be able to achieve their potential both on and off the field. This scholarship will not only help young players in their first year of study, it gives them a wonderful foundation from which to prepare for a career after football,” Ms Harper-Richardson said. 

Brendan Woods was officially named the 2014 recipient of the Col Purcell scholarship during a ceremony at WIN stadium in Wollongong on 9 May. 

The scholarship is named in honour of Col Purcell, a late life-member of the Illawarra Rugby League community and a dedicated administrator of the Junior Rugby League.  Mr Millward said the scholarship is a great tribute to Col Purcell and his wife Billie, who is also a life member of the Junior League. 

The 2013 inaugural recipient of the scholarship, Zachary Baker, is now studying medicine and has said that this was only made possible due to the financial support he received during his first year at university.