Jonny May

Jonny graduated in 2015 with BA (Hons) Sports Business Management and then his number one priority was rugby at club and international level.

Jonny's Hartpury Experience

"I came to Hartpury as a college student to do a diploma in Sport and after I completed that, I was offered a professional contract with Gloucester Rugby. I also decided that I wanted to continue my studies at Hartpury University. I did my first year of my Foundation degree in Sports Business Management while playing with Gloucester Academy and when I then stepped up into the first team, I continued my degree studies on a part-time basis. Hartpury University supported me to complete this successfully and to then top-up to the full Honours degree, again on a part-time basis. It was challenging doing a degree as I wasn’t able to get to that many lectures but my tutors always made time for me and arranged tutorials that fitted around my sporting schedule. They understood that it was tough for me to balance my studies with playing commitments, but the flexibility and support I received was crucial to me graduating and my degree means I will have something to fall back on when I’ve finished playing. I definitely had intense times where I got home from training exhausted and had to smash out some revision or an assignment, but it was all worth it in the end!"

Industry Connections

"Right now, rugby is my number one priority – at club and international level – and I’ve had so many amazing experiences and opportunities already. However, I’m also fully aware it can be a short career and I know that I’ll always have the security of a good education and a good degree from Hartpury University to fall back on. Hartpury is a great place to come if you’re an aspiring player in any sport, not just rugby. It allows you to combine playing at a high level with continuing to study. I think a degree is something that is universally recognised as a high level of academic achievement and it gives you that success and respect that helps you get the career you want. I’m not 100% sure what I want to do yet after rugby but I’m considering the sports therapy field. I’d like to go on to do some coaching courses or get some work experience in the sports industry; so that when my playing career all comes to an end, I’ll have built up a CV that can open doors for me."