The University of Bath’s School of Management is welcoming Bath and England rugby player Anthony Watson to its new class of students studying for an Executive MBA this month.

Watson will study part-time for the prestigious business qualification through online learning and a small number of days each month spent on campus, fitting alongside his playing commitments for Bath Rugby and the England team.

It’s not the first time that the course will count Bath Rugby players among its students – team mates Rhys Priestland, Henry Thomas and Will Chudley are in their second year of study for the Executive MBA and they encouraged Watson that he would be very well supported on the course by his tutors.

“It’s a no brainer to do the MBA while I’m playing,” said Watson. “The lads at Bath who are already studying have said the University is as accommodating as possible and that learning from the other people on the course, and their diverse backgrounds, experiences and perspectives, is what makes it such a good experience.”

Watson, who earned his fiftieth cap playing for his country in England’s Guinness Six Nations victory over France, says his Nigerian mum insists him and his brothers push themselves to be as educated as they can be.

He’s enthusiastic about the benefits of the course to help him with contract negotiations and financial decisions in his career, as well as insight into leadership styles on the pitch, and setting him up for his working life when playing comes to an end.

“To have a player of Watson’s calibre on our Executive MBA is a really exciting prospect for students and tutors alike,” said Donald Lancaster Director of Studies of the MBA Programmes at the University of Bath. “He will bring unique experiences of achieving at the highest level, and insight from a finely tuned coaching and leadership programme. We know he has an exceptional work ethic, combined with tremendous resilience, and we look forward to learning from him as much as he will learn from us and his fellow students from very different walks of life.”

The Bath MBA improves leadership and business skills to fast-track or change career. Students learn from leading academics in the School, combined with practical experience through project work. It ranks amongst the world’s best in the QS Global MBA Ranking 2021.

Over £500,000 in scholarship funding is available to support talented MBA candidates from across the globe and this year a special full fees scholarship is available for full-time MBA candidates in the local area who have been directly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.