02/10/2026
On Wednesday, we welcomed Dr Tom Briscoe to the University of Bradford for a session with our fourth-year MPhys Physiotherapy students and third-year BSc Physiotherapy students on placement in our Physio Clinic.
Tom took us through his career in professional rugby league, from the experiences that helped sustain him at the highest level for nearly 20 years to completing his PhD alongside playing.
We explored what performance means from an athlete’s perspective, the role of psychology and goal setting during long-term injury, and why a positive sporting culture and shared decisions between athletes and staff matter.
The students’ thoughtful questions turned the final part of the session into more than an hour of discussion. It gave us a valuable insight into both the lived experience of an elite athlete and the way a researcher approaches complex performance questions.
Thank you, Tom, for being so open with your experiences, and to our students for making the most of the opportunity.
