Northumbria Graduate Dan's The Man

A Northumbria University graduate is on top of the world after winning one of Rugby League’s leading honours Down Under.

Dan Turland completed his Masters degree this summer following an outstanding season with Team Northumbria’s all-conquering Rugby League first team.

And he capped a superb 2017 by winning a call-up to represent Scotland at the Student Rugby League Cup in Australia.

Turland won World Player of the Tournament and played his way into the coveted World XIII.

Scotland exceeded all expectations to make it to the semi-finals and were only denied a place in the final by a talented Pacific Islands squad.

‘’I am incredibly proud of what Dan achieved over in Australia,” said Northumbria University’s Head of Rugby League, Jason Payne.

“To be named in the World XIII is impressive enough but to get named as Player of the Tournament in a Student World Cup is truly remarkable.

‘’Dan has been a fantastic player for Northumbria Rugby League over the last two years while studying for his Masters and this is a great way to end his time at the University.

‘’We are also very proud of Scott Harrison and Toby Williams who also represented Scotland and Ieuan Jones who captained Wales.

“All of these players are a credit to Northumbria University and to themselves.’’

Six nations took part in the 2017 Student Rugby League World Cup which was played at venues across Western Sydney.

Matches took place in the Rugby League strongholds of St Marys, Wentworthville, Windsor, and Cabramatta with the final taking place at Penrith Panthers home ground - Pepper Stadium.

Scotland lost 44-12 to the Pacific Islanders with Turland grabbing one of the Scots’ tries.

Coach Nathan Graham lamented his side’s first half performance and admitted his side was playing catch-up after the break.

“We needed to complete our sets early on in the first half and we didn’t do that,” he said.  “We tried to starve them of possession – when you keep coughing the ball up it’s tough – and we ended up defending for the majority of the first half.

“Then we didn’t have any energy in the tank in the second half and we ended up just clinging on.”