England take on South Africa in the final of the Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan on Saturday November 2 with a Northumbria graduate and two current students taking a starring role.

Owen Farrell, a recent BA (Hons) Leadership & Management (Distance Learning) graduate and England Captain, will compete for the highest trophy in world rugby alongside team mates and current Northumbria students, Anthony Watson and Mako Vunipola, who are in the final year of the same course.

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). The degree 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: "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. Good luck to Owen, Anthony, Mako and England in what is surely the the biggest match of their lives."