St Helens’ rugby team benefits from Rochdale physiotherapist's university research

Nathan Mill, from Rochdale, head physiotherapist at Super League rugby league club St Helen's, has graduated with a Masters from the University of Chester.

Mill, who was working full time at the club while completing his MRes (Master’s by Research) qualification, was supported in his sports exercise research by Professor Craig Twist, Dr Jamie Highton and Dr Edd Thomson, who work in the Department of Sports and Exercise Sciences.

Mill started his career in professional sport at St. Helens as an academy physiotherapist from 2003 to 2008.

He moved on to work full time in Premiership rugby union before becoming the head physiotherapist at Huddersfield Giants.

He returned to St Helen's in 2013 (and was part of the club’s incredible 2014 season).

During his time working in rugby league, Mill has held the position of head physiotherapist at England Rugby League from 2011 to 2015, where he was responsible for the physiotherapy care of players in the Elite Squad including the World Cup in 2013, Four-Nations in Australia in 2014 and the successful series win versus New Zealand in 2015.

Mill explains why he chose to study for an MRes at the University of Chester, he said: “I had a strong affiliation with the Sports Sciences Department through previous collaborations, and it also has an excellent reputation in the subject area.

"The university has enabled me to achieve a formal level of qualification that I have aspired to achieve for a number of years but never had the opportunity.

"The MRes allowed flexibility for my studies and my career commitments, and the support of the staff throughout has been an important aspect for me personally.

“My particular research was aimed at detecting potential differences in jump performance of previously injured rugby league players and non-injured players. It also considered the implications that jump performance could be used to help progress injured players through rehabilitation and eventually, to return to play.

"From a club point of view, my researched subject has enabled us to make informed decisions and, in some instances, alter our practises based on the findings.”

He added: “I am very proud of achieving this qualification and extremely indebted and grateful to the support Professor Craig Twist and Dr Edd Thomson at the University have provided throughout my studies. It has enabled me to develop an understanding in an area of my profession, while gaining a qualification that will hopefully assist in my career progression at St. Helens' R.F.C. It has given me a passion for further reading into my chosen MRes subject and the wider field of sports performance.

"Having thoroughly embraced the academic process, I would love to undertake a more challenging research opportunity in the future. In the near future, I am applying the knowledge gained to advance our practice at St. Helen's R.F.C.

"Going forward, I hope to continue to use current research to continually employ a best practice approach that is appropriate for our club and the players and staff within it.”