Widnes Vikings is delighted to announce a new collaborative working partnership with Wrexham University.
This will allow the club to have access to staff, students, and equipment from Wrexham University.
The club will be able to utilise this arrangement for things such as physiotherapy, sports injury rehabilitation, strength & conditioning, performance analytics, and sports psychology.
The partnership will also allow students and staff to gain real-life experience at the club.
This will enable the club to benefit from the aforementioned areas, with the ultimate aim being to give us a competitive edge.
Head of Operations Christopher Hamilton said: ”This is a first for the club to have a formal agreement in place with a university.
“It originally came about via our Board Member, Joy Morton, who is the University’s solicitor and since it was first discussed as a possibility, I have had several meetings and conversations firstly with Dr Simon Stewart, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Life Sciences and subsequently Julian Ferrari, Senior Lecturer in Performance Analysis as well as others from the Physiotherapy and Strength and Conditioning Departments.
“We were looking at ways in which we can try to get an advantage over other teams, and in this partnership, we will have access to equipment, and resources, including staff and students, and high-end kit and equipment that will help our staff and players to be at their best.
“The meetings, at various points, have included Allan Coleman, Adam Williams (Strength and Conditioning coach), Rhys Perrett (Physio) and our newly appointed analyst Lee Thomas as they needed to convey to the University what we need from them to get the most out of this collaboration.
There are several other areas both parties are keen to develop including access to free online courses, which will develop as the partnership grows.
This will include working closely with our key partners Halton Borough Council, Riverside College, and Cronton Sixth-Form College, as well as our other partners and local businesses.
On the partnership’s opportunity for growth, Hamilton added: “We hope that, as the relationship grows, so will the elements that we can tap into, and this agreement is something that both parties very much see as a long-term idea.
“We intend to make sure we get all we can from the relationship to give our staff and players every possible edge we can over our rivals.”
Dr. Simon Stewart, Dean of the Faculty of Social and Life Sciences at Wrexham University, said: “Wrexham University Sports Science Department and Widnes Vikings Rugby League Club unite in a shared commitment to elevate performance, optimise training methodologies, and cultivate the holistic development of players.
“By unlocking athletic potential through the synergy of academia and athleticism, we are committed to shaping champions.
“Through research, innovation, and dedication, we will push the limits of performance, fostering a legacy of excellence in sports science and Widnes rugby league.”
Dr. Maria Hinfelaar, Vice-Chancellor at Wrexham University, commented on how both parties will benefit from the partnership, she said: “We’re able to lend the expertise of the academic staff and of course the students themselves.
“They will be picking up valuable skills and knowledge through the programmes they are studying which will be a benefit for the club.
“We also have equipment and technology that will help to monitor and measure performance to analyse data post-training or post-match.
“We will both be able to support each other. This will be a strong partnership between Wrexham and Widnes.”
