Sport and Exercise Science

Profile

Background

Mike Rayner has recently joined the department as a senior lecturer in Sports Development. He obtained his undergraduate and postgraduate degrees from the University of Portsmouth. Mike has also previously worked for the institution in a different capacity as the Education and Representation Officer at the Student’s Union. Outside of academia Mike enjoys several sports, particularly rugby union and cricket

Teaching Responsibilities

Mike currently teaches sports and business management and related subjects on our Sports Development undergraduate degree pathway. He is unit coordinator for the Level 4 unit of Research and Philosophy in Sports Development, Level 5 units of Research Applications in Sports Management and Sport and Business Management and finally the Level 6 unit of Professional Practice in Sports Marketing. As well as supervising undergraduate dissertations Mike is also the Year 2 Tutor for the department.

Research Interests

Mike’s research focuses on the professional developments of rugby union since its declaration as a professional sport. At present Mike’s research includes investigating the evolutionary process of the game, from its origins through to the moment it became a professional sport and most importantly, the state of the sport in today’s society. Mike’s research examines the global effect of professionalisation on rugby union, and particularly the impact on the amateur levels of the game