Source: http://rupa.rugby/rupa-news/story/inaugural-rupa-fiafitnation-scholarship-winners-announced
The Rugby Union Players’ Association (RUPA) are pleased to announce the first three recipients of full scholarships from our Fitness Training Education Partner, FIAFitnation.
Brumbies duo Nick Frost and Tom Wright, and Australian Men’s Rugby Sevens playmaker Stuart Dunbar, will all undertake a Certificate III in Fitness before the end of the year.
RUPA and FIAFitnation announced a brand-new partnership last month with all current Australian Super Rugby and Super W players, Men’s and Women’s Rugby Sevens players, Western Force players and all former professional players invited to apply for the scholarships to complete either a Certificate III or IV in Fitness.
In the case of Dunbar, who represented the Melbourne Rebels this year before signing to the Sevens program, the qualification will compliment his existing Masters of Education (Sports Coaching).
“I have already got two degrees, but the fitness industry is something that I am really passionate about,” he said. “I always want to keep pushing myself and bettering myself so that when I do eventually stop playing Rugby professionally, that transition into the workforce is a lot more efficient.
“I am very grateful for the opportunity from RUPA and FIAFitnation, I am super excited. I have had almost a year off from study now, having previously studied for six years before that, and I think it gives you a great outlet to switch off from day-to-day Rugby and instead focus on educating and improving yourself.”
Wright said that having a focus on life beyond Rugby was his main motivator when applying for the scholarship.
“I’m a rugby player at this current point in time, which is obviously my top priority, but you can’t play forever so being a few steps ahead in terms of planning for what I do post-rugby is important and this course opens doors to a lot of things I could look at,” Wright said.
“It’s awesome that FIAFitnation have come on board with RUPA. RUPA does a great job at taking care of the players as it stands already, and opportunities like this give me the chance to show my gratitude by completing the course to the best of my ability.”
About FIAFitnation
FIAFitnation is Australia’s longest running fitness education provider with over 45 combined years’ experience. The Sydney based Fitness Institute Association (FIA) was established in the 1980s as the original registering body for personal trainers. By the mid-1990s FIA had moved to specialise in education, building on its reputation as the industry leader in classroom delivery.