- Project Title:Team-based and position-based performance metrics in professional rugby union
- Partner Organisation: Queensland Rugby/ Queensland Reds
- PhD Student at QUT
- Supervisors:A/Prof Dimitri Perrin, Dr Edgar Santos Fernandez, & Sam Cordingley
Born and raised in Brisbane, James is a returning QUT alumnus who recently graduated with an MDA (Master of Data Analytics) majoring in Statistical Data Science. In the last 3 semesters of his post graduate study, he moved to Townsville to undertake an APS Data Cadetship aimed at bridging the gap between the theory learnt in the classroom and its practical application in the work force. With real-world experience, James returned to Brisbane in 2024 to welcome the birth of his first born child and join the Next Generation Graduates Program. He describes joining the NGGP cohort as a “dream come true moment” as it combines his academic interests and work experience, with his passion for Rugby Union.
What made you interested in this program?
In the last year of my masters I had a research course where we had to select a domain from a list: one of these domains was Rugby Union! Being a player and a massive fan, I reached out to Dimitri (who was the supervisor for this topic) for some insight into how the game I loved so much was adapting to the modern era. He organised some meetings with the Queensland Reds where we discussed the NGGP opportunity and its vision to develop modern data science and AI tools which could influence game strategy. I am most interested by the idea I could develop analytical methods which offer practical applications to a professional team.
What research question are you looking forward to exploring?
The ultimate goal of my project is to describe how player selection and team tactics combine to influence the match result. In defining this relationship, I will have to have already identified which attacking and/or defending strategies win games. This calls to mind a common commentators adage, “the best defense is a good offense“: I’m keen to prove its not so black and white!
Fun fact about yourself?
My favourite thing in the whole world is to sing and play guitar with my daughter.