Briscoe hoping for top marks after completing degree

Leeds Rhinos winger Tom Briscoe has been putting the extra time he’s had due to the Covid-19 lockdown to good use, helping with home schooling and even completing a degree.

The 30-year-old has spent the past few years combining his playing and training commitments with studying part-time for a degree in Sports and Exercise Science with Leeds Beckett University but has now finally finished his last piece of work.

Like most players, he’s still training remotely while Super League is suspended but admits his university work has been a welcome relief.

“I have been enjoying the chance to spend time with my young family and make the most of that experience,” he said. “I handed in my last assignment last week and it has been six years of tough graft, fitting in my uni work around training and the family.

6 years in the making but finally submitted my last assignment for my @leedsbeckett SPEX degree. Thanks to all my tutors and lecturers over the years and to Beckett for accommodating the ever changing schedule of pro sport. Now time to wait for my results 🙈🤞🏻🤞🏻

— Tom briscoe (@tom_briscoe) May 26, 2020

“It has meant some long evenings to get the work done when the kids have gone to bed to make sure I made all my deadlines but I am proud to have achieved it and stuck to it.

“The graduation has been postponed until further notice but they have said we will get a certificate with our results. I am hoping to get a first and just needed to pass my last assignment to get that.

“It has been hard work but I have tried my hardest and thankfully it has paid off. I have managed to keep my grades above 70% and that would be a great achievement to get a first.”

Briscoe has been out of action for the Rhinos since the start of August, after suffering a serious knee injury in a game away at Huddersfield.

He was due to return around the time lockdown came into force and says while it was frustrating not to be involved in Leeds’ excellent start to the season, he’s focusing on the positives.

“The week I was due to make my comeback was the week we went into lockdown so the timing could have been better,” he added. “I have been trying to maintain the standard I was at.

“The training I have been able to do is limited and obviously not as good as if we were in training at the club but I was ready to play so I didn’t need physio work, so that was a bonus.

“The other advantage is that I have had a couple of extra months to make sure my knee is properly healed, I was coming back on the quicker side of things so a few weeks extra will not do any harm.”