Class of 2026: Henry Edgington

A Masters graduate whose research into youth rugby has already led to work with Brentford Football Club says Essex gave him the confidence to become a researcher.

Henry Edgington from Kelvedon, Essex, is graduating with a Master of Science by Dissertation in Sport and Exercise Medicine after researching youth rugby tackle biomechanics.

Now a year into a PhD at Cardiff Metropolitan University, he is working with Brentford Football Club and hopes to build a career bridging the gap between research and applied sport.

“I want to work in environments where scientific insights are actively used,” he said. “Research that doesn’t reach coaches or practitioners feels like a missed opportunity.”

He chose to remain at Essex after being inspired by the mentorship of Dr Bernard Liew during his undergraduate degree.

“I was already familiar with Dr Bernard Liew's research in biomechanics and motion analysis before beginning my master's, making the opportunity to continue learning with him very appealing,” he said.

“Both he and Dr Jason Moran motivated me to pursue a Masters by dissertation.”

That decision opened doors he never expected.

Through his research he collaborated with academics from other institutions, presented his work at international conferences in Glasgow and Rimini, Italy, published research papers and secured his PhD position.

“The conferences stand out,” he said. “Presenting in Rimini and Glasgow, I didn't expect any of that to happen. Those opportunities came through Dr Bernard Liew.”

He said both Dr Liew and Dr Moran challenged him to think critically, question assumptions and defend his ideas.

“Between the two of them, I went from a student interested in sports science to someone capable of conducting research,” he said.

Balancing research with coaching, work, internships and academic deadlines was one of the biggest challenges of his degree, but he says overcoming those demands made him more resilient.

Looking back, he believes the support of staff made Essex stand out.

“The lecturers I collaborated with introduced me to their research, put me in touch with people and opportunities I wouldn't have discovered alone, and regarded me as capable,” he said.

“This resulted in attending international conferences, forming research collaborations, publishing papers and securing a PhD position.”

As he celebrates his graduation this summer, he credits Dr Liew and Dr Moran for helping shape the career he is now building.

“Together, they created the environment where meaningful progress became possible,” he said. “I owe much of my success to their guidance.”