A FORMER University of Worcester sports student has secured a “dream” internship with Harlequins.

Robert Nitman will spend a season working with the professional players to develop their strength and conditioning, fitness and overall training, as well as assisting with other duties at the club.

“It’s a dream come true to secure this internship with Harlequins,” said the 24-year-old.

“I started playing rugby when I was about seven years old and always wanted to work for a professional club.

“Harlequins had links with the club I played for as a kid, so to get an internship with them is amazing.”

Nitman gained a distinction and two merits in his BTEC in sport, health and lifestyle before joining the university’s sports coaching science degree in 2008.

He graduated in 2011 with a 2:1 classification and went on to work as a rugby coach for Malvern College while carrying out voluntary work with the university’s men’s squad.

In April, he gained the UK Strength and Conditioning Association’s accreditation.

“I applied for the Harlequins internship two years ago but didn’t get it,” Nitman continued.

“They told me to go and get some more experience so that’s what I did.

“I came back to the university and worked with the rugby club and also with strength and conditioning mentor Marc Scriven.

“Then I applied again and got in. I couldn’t have done it without the support of the university and my degree.”

Nitman, who hails from Worthing in West Sussex, will start his internship next month and added: “I can’t wait to get going now.

“Hopefully, this will put me in an even stronger position in the future to secure a professional role with a rugby club. It gives me a whole year’s worth of working at an elite level.”