Rugby ace Rob Webber - who is a student at Northumbria University - has been selected to represent England at this year’s Rugby World Cup.

The hooker for Premiership side, Bath, has this week been named as part of the 31-man squad, which will take on teams from around the globe at stadiums across England from September.

Rob (29) is currently studying for the University’s BA (Hons) Leadership and Management degree (BALM). The degree is designed by the Rugby Players’ Association (RPA), working closely with Northumbria, to match a professional rugby player’s needs and provide an opportunity for members to study around their sporting careers.

With over 70 rugby players currently studying at the University, Dr Guy Brown, who heads up Northumbria’s Corporate and Executive Development Centre, said the programme was going from strength to strength.

He said: “As sports professionals they are able to draw upon their leadership capabilities from the playing field and identify opportunities for further improvement. We are delighted that many of the players have been able to use the skills and knowledge developed on this programme to meet their post playing career aspirations.” 

Head coach Stuart Lancaster, whose side begin their tournament against Fiji at Twickenham on the 18^th of September, selected his squad after 10 weeks in training camp.

Rob moved to Bath Rugby from fellow Premiership side Wasps ahead of the 2012/13 season. The hooker, who hails from York, is a talented player and has represented England at all age group levels, from Under 16’s to touring with the Saxons in 2010, and gained his first full England cap in the 2012 RBS Six Nations Championship.

If you would like to know more about the Leadership and Management degree visit: www.northumbria.ac.uk/rpa.