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Australian Catholic University (ACU) is offering two full-time PhD scholarships to undertake research that enhances physical development and reduces injury risk in Australian rugby athletes.
The project will explore either the training load practices of professional rugby players, nutritional interventions that enhance performance, or injury surveillance processes with professional rugby union players in Australia. The research aims to enhance training and match outcomes and long-term athlete development.
The project is a collaboration between ACU and Rugby Australia. The successful candidates will primarily be located in Brisbane at the National Rugby Training Centre but candidates will also spend time with Super Rugby clubs in NSW, ACT, and WA.
| Study mode | Full-time for up to 3 years |
|---|---|
| Location | Brisbane campus |
| Places available | Two |
| Commencing | 2025/2026 |
| Principal Supervisor | Associate Professor Jonathon Weakley |
| Research group/s |
School of Behavioural and Health Sciences The School of Behavioural and Health Sciences at ACU offers a range of courses designed to improve health outcomes and enhance the performance of elite athletes. The School of Behavioural and Health Sciences conducts researching focusing on sport science, injury prevention, psychology, elite athlete preparation, and clinical applications of exercise in health, chronic disease, and rehabilitation. Our staff are involved in various, cross-disciplinary research projects that utilise our first-class facilities and extensive industry partner network. SPRINT Research Centre The Sports Performance, Recovery, Injury and New Technologies (SPRINT) Research Centre is dedicated to advancing the fields of sports performance, recovery, and injury prevention through innovative research and collaboration. Our mission is to optimise human performance by translating our findings into practical applications that benefit athletes, sports organisations, and the wider community. |
| Industry partner/s |
Rugby Australia Rugby Australia is the national governing body for rugby union in Australia. It manages national representative teams, including the Wallabies and Wallaroos, and oversees the premier rugby union competitions in Australia. Rugby Australia supports over 500 athletes in their sporting journey from talented juniors to Olympic Games and Rugby World Cups. Rugby Australia is investing in the development of sport science in the wake of the British and Irish Lions and in the build up to the men's (2027) and women's (2029) Rugby World Cups in Australia and the Olympic Games in 2032. It supports research projects and practice that have a tangible impact on outcomes for high-performance athletes, coaches, and practitioners. |
| Scholarship package |
The successful applicant will be awarded a scholarship package consisting of:
International candidates will also receive:
The scholarship package is subject to satisfactory progress and full-time study mode. The scholarship conditions align with the ACU Research Training Program Scholarship Policy. |
Applications close: Friday 3 October 2025, 11:59 pm AEST
In addition to the eligibility criteria, the successful applicant should have:
To be considered for this scholarship, applicants must submit all documentation required for an application to the PhD program at ACU, as detailed in the How to Apply instructions, plus:
When completing the PhD application form, please indicate that you are also applying for a stipend scholarship and include the name of this project "Optimisation of training loads, injury surveillance, and nutritional support in professional rugby union players".
Interested candidates should contact Associate Professor Jonathon Weakley before applying for the PhD program and scholarship.
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