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Canterbury NZ supports international rugby scholarship
Innovative sportswear manufacturer Canterbury NZ has funded an international scholarship to enable South African rugby player Dan Potgieter to study and train at Loughborough University for a year.
Potgieter, who already has qualifications in Institutional Finance and Financial Risk Management, is taking a one-year Masters in Banking and Finance and will become an integral part of the Loughborough rugby team who are current Midlands 1 league leaders.
The 24-year-old has access to all high quality training, facilities and support services offered to elite athletes at the University and is expected to represent Loughborough in both University and league fixtures.
As part of the scholarship Potgieter receives a supply of Canterbury NZ kit, including the innovative and intelligent BaseLayer and IonX kit. The development of these groundbreaking products was supported by crucial research carried out at the Loughborough University Sports Technology Institute and was worn by Rugby World Cup winners South Africa during their recent successful campaign.
Potgieter joins Loughborough from his home town Stellenbosch where he studied and played rugby at the local university. Until his recent move the second row player was also a regular with Western Province rugby team.
Since arriving in Loughborough this autumn, Potgieter has settled in well and is enjoying increased access to training.
"Rugby provides me with a really positive outlet for my energy and the sense of shared joy that I get when we win a match is a real buzz," he said. "I am having a brilliant time here. The rugby is really professional and everyone has been very welcoming. I am really grateful to Canterbury for making my time here possible."
