University of Gloucestershire hosted members of the England rugby team this week, in support of their preparations for the Rugby World Cup.

Thanks to the university's sporting facilities and location, its Oxstalls campus proved a perfect base for England's players based at clubs in London, the West and South West to undergo an assessment day.

As well as strength, sprinting and jumping assessments, the players were given medical and movement screening, and carried out a simulated rugby task in the university's environmental chamber, cycling for 20 minutes in elevated temperatures and at 60% humidity.

The assessment day will help ensure the players can be supported to be in peak condition for the upcoming Guinness Six Nations (starting on February 4) and the Rugby World Cup in France in September, where temperatures could hit the mid-30s, particularly in the southern cities.

University of Gloucestershire students were able to observe, as the players were put through their paces by England's specialist support team.

Professor Mark de Ste Croix, professor of paediatric sport and exercise at University of Gloucestershire, said: "It's great for the students to see the same specialist kit that we use to teach them, like the environmental chamber, force plates, telemetry kit and timing gates, being used to assess elite athletes.

"When they see the professional support staff for the England rugby team using the same tests and kit that we use for injury management and to measure hydration, core temperature and sodium content, it gives them confidence about using their skills and knowledge on placement and in their future careers.

"It's always gratifying when the strength of our relationships and facilities enables us to host top level sporting professionals, and for our students to benefit from this opportunity. It is also wonderful of course to know we've played a part in supporting the England team in a World Cup year and we would love to continue to develop that relationship."

Prof de Ste Croix co-ordinated the assessment day with Professor Graham Close, lead nutritionist for the England rugby team and professor at Liverpool John Moore University, where the players based further north carried out their testing day.

Lucy Burnett, third year sports therapy student, said: "It has been such a unique opportunity to observe the huge range of tests and assessments being carried out. It's pretty surreal seeing the same techniques that we use to practice on each other being used on the England rugby team!"

Milly Pittaway, third year strength and conditioning degree student, said: "It's been a great experience and has given me confidence in employing the skills and knowledge we learn on our degree programmes in future."

Credit for both images: RFU Collection/ Getty Images