Trying your Best: Rugby Legend to Talk about Living your Dreams

One of England’s sporting greats will talk about his journey from the air force to the pinnacle of international sport in the next instalment of the University of Lincoln’s Great Minds guest lecture series.

Rory Underwood MBE will describe how he followed his dream of becoming a pilot in the RAF before bursting onto the international rugby scene in 1984 and becoming one of rugby union’s greatest ever players.

He scored a remarkable 49 tries in 85 international matches for England, making him his country’s all-time leading try scorer. He also scored 134 tries in 236 first-team appearances for Leicester Tigers, and toured with the British & Irish Lions in 1989 and 1993. Rory was awarded an MBE for Services to Sport in 1995 and is still widely regarded as one of the sport’s true greats.

His Great Minds guest lecture at the University of Lincoln is entitled, Dream Big – your future is in your hands. It will take place at 11.30am on Thursday 20th October 2016 at the Engine Shed at the University’s main Brayford Pool campus. The talk will be followed by a Q&A with members of the audience.

“I am looking forward to speaking at the Great Minds lecture, where I am hoping that some of my experiences from the air force, international sport and the world of business will inspire those young people attending to ‘Dream Big’ and know they can achieve great things.” Rory, who completed his RAF officer training at RAF College Cranwell, now runs his own management consultancy, Wingman.

He is a Non-Executive Director at Leicester Tigers and Prescient Power, a patron of the Meningitis Foundation and is Chairman of the Grantham Branch of the Malaya Veterans Association. As well as delivering his guest lecture, Rory will spend time with students from the University’s School of Sports and Exercise Science, running a rugby coaching session.

The University of Lincoln’s Great Minds guest lecture series aims to provide inspirational insights into different aspects of society, from the entertainment world to elite sport – for school and college students in Years 11, 12 and 13. A limited number of places are also available to the public. Admission is free but booking is essential.

This season’s Great Minds series began with a talk from Lord Victor Adebowale CBE, Chancellor of the University of Lincoln and a cross bench member of the House of Lords. Upcoming speakers for the 2016/17 season will be revealed shortly.

To book a place at the Great Minds guest lecture visit www.lincoln.ac.uk/events, email events@lincoln.ac.uk or phone 01522 837100. Priority booking will be given to groups from UK schools and colleges.

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