The England rugby union team has schooled many opponents recently on their way to winning the Six Nations and claiming the runners-up spot in the World Cup.
Now two of the team's stars have achieved a notable success off the pitch, right here in the North East.
Exciting winger Anthony Watson and loosehead prop Mako Vunipola have both just graduated from Northumbria University, Newcastle, with a BA (Hons) degree in Leadership and Management.
As well as achieving a First-Class Honours, Watson also received the Pro Vice-Chancellor Award for Excellent Performance.
Both he and Vunipola join fellow England player and captain Owen Farrell, to graduate from Northumbria in recent years.
The BA (Hons) Leadership and Management (BALM) degree from Northumbria's Newcastle Business School has been designed in partnership with the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA).
Qualification matches a professional rugby player’s needs and provides the flexibility to study around their sporting career.
Professor John Wilson, Pro Vice-Chancellor for the Faculty of Business and Law at Northumbria, said: "Despite the challenges of Covid-19 this has been quite a year for Anthony and Mako, as part of the England team that won the Six Nations and now gaining their degrees.
"I congratulate them both. Our partnership with the RPA is hugely successful, helping professional rugby players gain a valuable academic qualification to help them achieve their future goals and add to their sporting success.”
