Pitch2Podium unearths promising Olympic talent from rugby

Rob Milligan, a former Northampton Saints and England U20s forward, was very impressive at the Pitch2Podium talent assessment day at Reading’s Madjeski Stadium. So much so that the testers immediately invited him to attend a Phase Two assessment with GB Rowing. He has since been selected for GB Rowing’s World Class Start programme.

Milligan said: "Pitch2Podium has given me an opportunity to further my athletic career after it was unfortunately cut short in professional rugby. I have never tried rowing but presume my size, strength and endurance developed from my training in rugby is going to be helpful. I understand I have got a lot to do, but I am hungry to take up this new challenge and definitely keen to see if I have what it takes to get to the Olympic Games – and more importantly, win a medal."

Steve Gunn, GB Rowing’s World Class Start manager, said: "We have already proven through GB Rowing’s World Class Start programme (sponsored by Siemens) that, by reaching out to non-traditional sources of rowers through schools, and testing in large numbers that we can have an impact on the World and Olympic stage.

"Pitch2Podium gave us yet another opportunity to access a sporting population not usually open to us, and one where the athletes have the potential to transfer into rowing. There were indeed some impressive looking athletes at the assessment events and I am really looking forward to exploring how far they can go."

Read the full article at Uk Sport’s website