Gareth's Profile
Job title
Senior Lecturer and Programme Lead
Academic qualifications
MSc Sport and Exercise Medicine, BSc (Hons) Sports Therapy, PGCLTVS, Fellow (FHEA)
"I’ve been fortunate to work with the Scottish Rugby Union Men’s National Team, Aust for nine Six Nations Championships, two Rugby World Cups, as well as two Commonwealth Games, and I contributed to the South African T20 cricket team at the 2019 World Cup. I bring all of that real-world experience right into the classroom."
With 18 years’ experience across private practice, professional sport, and academia, I offer BSc and FdSc Sports Therapy students a unique perspective that’s enriched by my leadership roles in high-performance settings. I specialise in Elite Sports Performance, Concussion Management, Musculoskeletal Injury, and the Science of Recovery in Sport.
I’ve been fortunate to work within Professional Rugby for most of my career, including roles with Ospreys, Glasgow Warriors, the Welsh and Australian Rugby Unions, and a decade in the medical team supporting the Scottish Rugby Union Men’s National Team. I’ve worked with squads through nine Six Nations Championships and two Rugby World Cups. My expertise also extends to professional golf, tennis and cricket, and I contributed to the South African T20 team at the 2019 Cricket World Cup. I also provided medical support for Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and 2022. These professional experiences inform every aspect of my teaching, helping students to link their learning in the classroom with real-world practice.
I’m a Fellow of Advance HE, and an active member of both the Society of Sports Therapists and the British Association of Sport and Exercise Medicine. I advocate for a broad, evidence-based approach to sports therapy, and I co-authored the latest Routledge Handbook of Sports and Exercise Therapy. I’m also researching Concussion Awareness amongst coaches for all levels of Women’s Rugby Union, and I’m part of a project examining the Mental Health of clinicians working in sport.
Within our industry, I’m most inspired by helping individuals progress from injury to full performance, and I challenge the misconception that Sports Therapy is only for supporting elite athletes. At UCB, we teach students that a wide range of health conditions can be managed using Sports Therapy techniques.
One thing that I’m really proud of is connecting my students with high-profile placement opportunities; some of my students supported the Scottish Rugby Union at the Rugby World Cup in Japan, and others worked with Team Scotland at the Commonwealth Games.
It may come as no surprise that I’m an active person by nature. I train regularly for everything from half-marathons and full marathons to triathlons and ultramarathons.
My advice for students is to make the most of every opportunity at university, reach out when you need support, and embrace your challenges as they’re opportunities for growth.