We developed our rugby union scholarship programme in 1999.
Receive training from The Crusaders and gain access to specialist programmes and facilities as you study towards an academic qualification.
Rugby scholars
Scott Barrett, former rugby scholar
Rugby scholar Scott Barrett, originally from Pungarehu in Coastal Taranaki, holds a Bachelor of Agriculture from Lincoln University.
He says he chose to attend Lincoln because he wanted a change of scenery and the chance to meet new people.
“I heard how much of a good time my eldest brother, Kane, had at Lincoln,” he says. “Also, the combination of a strong agriculture programme and competitive Colts rugby grade made Lincoln a no-brainer.”
Barrett comes from a dairy farming background and says he enjoys the farming lifestyle, which prompted him to pursue studies in agriculture.
“There is a wide range of courses available at Lincoln and you can really specialise your degree to your interests in the second and third years,” he says.
“The lecturers are really approachable and willing to help out students.”
He was impressed with the facilities on campus and says the accommodation and new dining hall were very sociable and comfortable.
“The recreation and gym facilities are second-to-none,” he says.
“The scholarship gym not only has top quality equipment, but there is an awesome training environment. There are also helpful nutritional and mental sessions catered to the needs of each individual.”
He says the programme is set up in such a way that neither study nor sport are compromised.
“This allows students to make their grades, as well as their representative teams.
“The rugby programme at Lincoln is very strong and has grown over the last four or five years. The club has featured in the top four for the past few years across division 1, 2 and Colts grades. This is a testament to the quality of the programme.”
Tom Sanders, former rugby scholar
Former Lincoln High School student and rugby scholar Tom Sanders holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Agribusiness. His strong interest in agriculture prompted him to choose this particular course of study.
“I come from a semi-rural background and think the degree will lead to good job opportunities,” he says.
He enjoyed the “relaxed environment, good people and awesome facilities” at Lincoln.
He says the sports scholarship programme teaches its participants the skills to be high-achieving athletes.
“The facilities are of a very high standard from an athlete’s point of view, and staff are great. If you choose to utilise all the resources, you will do well.”
He found the lecturers very helpful and willing to work with students and as far as campus facilities are concerned, he was impressed with the lecture theatres, computer labs and library.
He also enjoys Lincoln activities and events, saying there is “plenty to keep you entertained in your spare time”.
As a sports scholar, he says the combination of study and athletic commitments worked well.
“If you can be organised, there’s no reason why you shouldn’t be able to achieve great results in both. Staff are very good at helping with this.”
He says rugby in particular is done well at Lincoln, with the combination of strength and conditioning staff and coaches giving “every resource you need to succeed”.