Player Spotlight: Josh Longson
In National League Rugby, players balance careers, families, and everyday life with the demands of high-level rugby. (Photo Credit: Mike Craig)
Few embody that balance better than Josh Longson, captain of Preston Grasshoppers and Head of PE at Stonyhurst College in Lancashire.
Josh has spent nine years at Stonyhurst, and having progressed through several roles, he is now Head of PE as well as Head of Year 11.
On juggling teaching with rugby, Josh told NLR: “I’m never going to say it’s easy!
“We’re in early every morning, and some days I don’t finish until 9pm when I’m on duty. Because Stonyhurst provides education for boarding and day pupils, we also have Saturday school, so I sometimes don’t finish until around 1pm on those days.
“It means I physically can’t get to fixtures on time, but Preston have been extremely understanding.”
Before Stonyhurst, Josh studied at Leeds Beckett University, completing an undergraduate degree in Primary Education and a Master’s in Physical Education.
While he didn’t play much rugby in his first two years, he later captained Leeds Beckett in BUCS Super Rugby after winning the BUCS Championship in 2015.
Josh then joined Preston Grasshoppers in 2022 and was named club captain for this season. With 44 National League Rugby appearances so far, he’s aiming for his 50-game milestone despite a recent shoulder injury slowing his progress.
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“When I joined Preston, I was a bit nervous. It was my first new club for a while. The lads have been brilliant, very accepting of me as captain, and I have a great network in the leadership group, which makes my job easier.
“For me, training and playing are my release. Even after a 12-hour school day, I want to set standards the rest of the team can follow.”
Josh credits his teaching and boarding school experience for his emotional intelligence and leadership skills which he brings to Hoppers: “Living with Year 13s [as a House Parent at Stonyhurst] and coaching younger players [when he was part of the rugby programme at the college] taught me to pick up on how people are feeling and how to interact with different people.
“Some may need an arm around the shoulder, some can handle a rocket but being at Stonyhurst has certainly helped me develop my understanding of this.
“As captain, I’m open. If someone’s having a tough day, a text, a call, or a quick chat can make all the difference.”
Josh’s journey highlights what makes National League Rugby special: players with day-to-day careers, passion for the game at this level, and a commitment to their team and community.
“It’s never a chore to go to training or play on a Saturday, and being captain is a privilege. Preston’s understanding of my work commitments makes it a great club to be involved with.”
Josh will now hope Preston can build on the thrilling 22-22 draw which they rescued against near neighbours Fylde just before Christmas.
Hoppers came back from 19-0 down at half-time to earn a share of the spoils, leaving Preston in eighth place as they head into 2026. Dan Orwin’s side begin the New Year with a home clash against 12th-placed Hull.
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