When Nicole Herron arrived in Argentina to study strength and conditioning she had no idea what to expect. What she found, was a family of over two thousand who did all they could to welcome her in to the La Plata Rugby Club.

Nicole has just finished studying her Physical Conditioning qualification. As part of her programme, she chose to travel to Argentina for a six-week work placement. 

It was the opportunity of a lifetime for developing myself as a strength and conditioning professional and discovering where my future direction and passion lies.

Some of Nicole’s class-mates went to Fiji, Samoa and the United States, but for her Argentina stands above the rest, “I learnt so much over there, not just about strength and conditioning but also about myself, and how culture affects our interactions and understandings."

Nicole received funding from the Otago Polytechnic Education Foundation to help her in her studies “It meant I could concentrate on learning; I didn’t have to worry about how I was going to pay for my travel” she says.