Meet the Gloucester Rugby prop with a masters degree from Oxford

Being in the front row of a scrum, Gloucester and ex-Bristol rugby prop Kyle Traynor should be used to feeling the pressure - but even the 33-year-old felt the strain ahead of a vital West Country derby two years ago.

Stuck in the middle of a two-year masters degree in sustainable and urban development at the University of Oxford, Kyle had to find a way of combining pre-match training with a week-long teaching block based at the university’s Kellogg College.

“That week was probably the most challenging part of the course, it was very tough,” said Kyle, who spent the Monday training, followed by day-and-night studying from Tuesday to Thursday followed by a Friday back on the rugby field ahead of the Saturday game.

“I got on with it, put my head down and then in the game I suffered split eye in the opening minutes,” he said. “It was a close derby which we unfortunately lost. It was a relief to get through and a rest was deserved come the end of the week.”

Roll on another year and Kyle finished his degree and this year graduated, posting a proud picture on social media with him in his ceremonial gown.

Despite the hard work and pressures, studying for qualifications is something the 33-year-old believes more players around him should be doing.

Unlike in football where a career in the Premier League would usually generate enough earning to last a life-time, in rugby, apart from those achieving international fame, it is a whole different ball game.

Kyle said: “I’d like to see more other players also studying, I don’t think enough are preparing themselves for post rugby.

“It is a challenging environment in the corporate world; the young graduates coming out of universities are very good and so it is important rugby players wanting to go into leadership and management careers given themselves the best possible chance.

“There are options out there and I have found the clubs I was at to be very accommodating when it came to studying.”

Kyle started studying while playing for Bristol three years ago and despite a move to Leicester Tigers a year later he was able to continue his studies.

As a part-time student they involved eight blocks of week-long teaching blocks in Oxford. Between the blocks, Kyle was expected to research topics, write essays and a thesis.

Fortunately, the blocks often fell during international or holiday breaks, but then sometimes, as during the build-up to the West Country derby in 2017, the two would clash.

He said: “It felt like a cloud over my head sometimes. Whenever I sat down I would think of something I needed to do; I probably spent a bit of time everyday on my course, mostly after training which finished at 3 to 4pm.

“I enjoyed it and it felt good preparing for the future.”

As well as studying, Kyle also took part in work placements, including a summer working at auditing firm KPMG in Canary Wharf.

“It was a time when the lads were all going on holiday, but I didn’t mind,” he said.

“I got suited up and went in wanting to learn and gain experience.”

Earlier this season, Kyle, following a release from Leicester Tigers, joined Gloucester to fill in for injuries. He has now earned a contract to the end of the season when he will assess what do next.

“I think as you get older you appreciate everything in rugby that bit more,” he said.

“You realise it is not going to go on forever, so every celebration in the dressing room; you saviour it that bit more. At the same time I’m preparing myself for the next stage of my career, whatever that may be.”

Kyle grew up in Farnborough and went to John Fisher’s School in Croydon, along with former rugby players Paul Sackey and George Skivingston. At the school he received the encouragement to pursue a career in rugby.

He signed a development contracted with the Scottish Rugby Union’s National Academy, but still found time to complete a degree in quantity surveying at Edinburgh Napier University.

Following graduation he entered the ranks at Edinburgh under the management of future Scotland rugby manager Andy Robertson.

In 2009 he made his debut for Scotland, the first of four caps for the nation.

He joined Bristol in 2012 and appeared for 97 games before going to the Tigers in 2017.

“I’m in a good career which I’m proud of,” he said.

“And I’m keen to look forward, I’m not one to look back. I have worked hard combining the rugby with university and I hope it puts me in good stead moving forward with whatever I wish to do post-rugby.”