--- title: Retiring Doctor Tom shows the way for Super League students description: Rugby League Cares congratulate Tom Briscoe for his academic success as well as his playing career, as he retires with a PhD image: https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Cele%20-%20Tom%20Briscoe.jpg --- [Skip to content](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/retiring-doctor-tom-shows-the-way-for-super-league-students#main-content) [Skip to content](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/retiring-doctor-tom-shows-the-way-for-super-league-students#main-content) MENU - [Home](https://rugbyleaguecares.org) - [Latest News](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/blog) - [About us](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/about-us) - [Community](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/community) - [Blackburn with Darwen](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/bwd) - [Get Involved](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/get-involved) - [RLCares Membership](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/membership) - [Players](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/players) - [Seriously Injured Players Fund](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/benevolent-fund) - [Contact](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/contact) ADDITIONAL LINKS - [Donate](https://www.justgiving.com/charity/rugbyleaguecares) - [Become a RLCares Member](https://secure.emandates.co.uk/Pages/Registration.aspx?.Client=174727dc-753e-4383-8ffe-c20cf2241cbb&.PaymentPlans=2b374003-6249-430d-b255-bf31124f8b19) - [Merchandise](https://www.eliteprosports.co.uk/rl-cares/) - [GET HELP NOW](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/get-help-now) Rugby League Cares MENU [![](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Logos%20NEW/RL%20Cares%20Grey.png)](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/) # Retiring Doctor Tom shows the way for Super League students Sep 10, 2026, 10:56:26 AM [Rugby League Cares](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/author/rugby-league-cares) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/retiring-doctor-tom-shows-the-way-for-super-league-students) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/retiring-doctor-tom-shows-the-way-for-super-league-students) [twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/retiring-doctor-tom-shows-the-way-for-super-league-students) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/retiring-doctor-tom-shows-the-way-for-super-league-students) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/retiring-doctor-tom-shows-the-way-for-super-league-students) Rugby League Cares adds congratulations to Dr Tom Briscoe for an outstanding playing career accompanied by academic success as he prepares to make a fitting farewell appearance for Hull FC against Leeds Rhinos on Friday night. In addition to scoring well over 200 tries in a career spanning 19 seasons, the 2015 Lance Todd Trophy winner this year completed a PhD in Sports Science at Leeds Beckett University, the culmination of a decade of combining study with Super League rugby – in which he has been supported by the education grants available from RL Cares.   Steve McCormack, Director of Player Care for Rugby League Cares, said: *“To play Rugby League at the highest level for almost two decades is a fantastic achievement for which Tom will rightly be recognised this weekend – by supporters of both Hull FC and Leeds Rhinos, the two clubs where he’s spent most of his career.* *“But to have combined that with studying initially for a degree in Sport and Exercise Science, and then going on to a PhD, he’s shown a huge amount of commitment and discipline – and set a great example for any other players, showing it’s possible to add qualifications for later life alongside your playing career.* *“Tom is exactly the sort of player and person that our education grants are there to support – and we hope he’ll inspire others to follow his example.”*   Reflecting on his academic journey ahead of what promises to be an emotional night at Headingley, Briscoe said: *“It goes right back to the night I made my debut for Hull at Warrington – and I had to get picked up from Pontefract New College to get on the coach.* *“I’d done all right in school with my GCSEs and my mum and dad pushed that I finished my A-Levels \[Biology, Geography and Sport\], before I knew whether the rugby was going to take off.* *“It was hard, going in early for gym stuff before college, and then rushing back – but with where I am now, I’m really glad I did.* *“I had been thinking of going to uni, but after I made my debut and things started to happen with the rugby, it got put on the backburner.* *“Then when I left Hull for Leeds I became aware of the partnership between the Rhinos and Leeds Beckett, and the thoughts came back to me.* *“I got a chance to start the sport and exercise science degree at the end of 2014 – it took six years because I was a part-time student, which took me to the Covid year. And at the back end of that, in lectures and classes, I got interested in what it would take to be a lecturer myself.* *“Rugby League Cares have educational grants available for players in the Super League and the Championship, and without a doubt they’ve been a big help to me.* *“A lot of players historically have left the game with nothing. The grants are put in place to help as many players as possible to focus on doing some studying, and to help with the transition after playing. Uni isn’t cheap, and when you’ve got all the other costs of life from family and things like that, every little helps – it’s definitely been a massive help to me.* *“You do get spare time away from the game as a full-time player, and I didn’t want to waste my time. I wanted to prepare for life after rugby. I’d started the sport young and seen a lot of players leave when they probably weren’t prepared. I didn’t realise I’d still be playing 19 years on from my debut – and I wanted to be as prepared as I could."*   The timing of his PhD meant that Tom even explored the possibility of being listed on Hull’s teamsheet this weekend as Dr Tom Briscoe. *“Yeah, I’ve tried that but unfortunately it’s an automated system,” he added. “I probably started mulling over retirement at the back end of last year, and kept thinking about it for a lot of this year until I eventually made the decision – and for my last match to be for Hull against Leeds at Headingley is perfect really.* *“It’s been a long journey and a special journey and I look back now and think what a privilege it’s been – and how proud I am to have achieved what I have – the England caps, the cup finals, the Lance Todd. Scoring five tries at Wembley – that’s probably top of the list.”*   [blog](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/blog), [Super League](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/super-league), [Leeds Rhinos](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/leeds-rhinos), [Hull FC](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/hull-fc), [Education Grants](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/education-grants), [Player Care](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/player-care), [Leeds Beckett University](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/leeds-beckett-university) ## **Our Partners** ![EHU New MHSPA Black Logo](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/EHU%20New%20MHSPA%20Black%20Logo.png) ![JUL 2019 Mattioli Woods Stacked Logo NO PLC RGB (1)-1-1](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/JUL%202019%20Mattioli%20Woods%20Stacked%20Logo%20NO%20PLC%20RGB%20(1)-1-1.png) ![Howorth Air Tech Logo](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Howorth%20Air%20Tech%20Logo.png) ![bartlet](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/bartlet.png) ![logo](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/logo.png) ![UCEN\_Logo\_CMYK](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/UCEN_Logo_CMYK.png) ![all sport](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Untitled-1.webp) ![oxen-2024-black-copy](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/oxen-2024-black-copy.png) ![Movember\_Primary Logo\_White copy](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Movember_Primary%20Logo_White%20copy.png) ![images](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/images.png) ![Caffe Nero B&W1](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/Caffe%20Nero%20B%26W1.png) ![exp-atol-logos-stacked](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hubfs/Globals/Partners%20Logos/exp-atol-logos-stacked.png) [![RL Cares White Text\_White Outline](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/Logos%20NEW/RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png?width=175&height=69&name=RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png "RL Cares White Text_White Outline")](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/) [![RL Cares White Text\_White Outline](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/Logos%20NEW/RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png?width=175&height=69&name=RL%20Cares%20White%20Text_White%20Outline.png "RL Cares White Text_White Outline")](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/) Rugby League Cares is an independent charity that touches upon the lives of people involved at every level of rugby league.    [info@rlcares.org.uk](mailto:info@rlcares.org)   Rugby League Cares is a registered charity in England and Wales (1109858) ![fundraising-regulator12](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/fundraising-regulator12.png?width=175&height=54&name=fundraising-regulator12.png) ![fundraising-regulator12](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/hs-fs/hubfs/Globals/fundraising-regulator12.png?width=175&height=54&name=fundraising-regulator12.png "fundraising-regulator12") **MAIN MENU** - [Home](https://rugbyleaguecares.org) - [Latest News](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/news/tag/blog) - [About us](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/about-us) - [Community](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/community) - [Get Involved](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/get-involved) - [Players](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/players) - [Seriously Injured Players Fund](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/benevolent-fund) - [Contact](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/contact) **ADDITONAL LINKS** - [Donate](https://www.justgiving.com/page/rlcares-brain-health-fund) - Merchandise - [GET HELP NOW](https://rugbyleaguecares.org/get-help-now) **KEEP IN TOUCH** Want to keep up to date on all things RL Cares? 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