During the University of Stirling’s winter graduation, professional rugby union player, Finn Russell, and Aquatics GB swimming coach, Steven Tigg, were awarded honorary degrees.
Finn Russell
Finn Russell grew up in Bridge of Allan, just down the road from the University. He started his rugby career at Wallace High School. Russell then played for Glasgow Warriors where he won the Pro12 title, followed by a stint at French club Racing 92. He is currently fly-half for Premiership Rugby club Bath and has over 40 caps since joining in 2023.
Russell was a part of Scotland’s Rugby World Cup squad in 2015, 2019, and 2023; and was a part of the Great British and Irish Lions tours in 2017, 2021, and 2025. He was named Scotland’s co-captain for the 2023 Six Nations Championship.
This honour means a lot to Finn Russell and “is made all the more special as someone who grew up less than a mile away.” Russell went on to add that he is “proud to see the ambition to develop the next generation of rugby players here at the University of Stirling in partnership with Stirling County – where I started my career.” He truly believes that “partnerships like this will help young players develop both on and off the pitch and reinforce Stirling’s place in Scottish rugby.”
Steven Tigg
Steven Tigg currently holds the position of head coach at Aquatics GB, the top job in British swimming.
His links to the University of Stirling started in the early 1990s when he swam as part of the Stirling Amateur Swim Club. Alloa Swim Club was the beginning of his coaching career in 2005, which was also where he met Duncan Scott. He would go on to coach Duncan for almost 20 years.
His success as an athlete led him to join the university’s high-performance programme in 2014 as a coach. In 2017, he was promoted to head coach.
Tigg has coached two Great British Olympic teams (Paris 2024 and Tokyo 2021), and five World Championship teams. He also coached the Scotland team at the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games. Under his leadership, the University sent a record number of athletes to the 2024 Olympics (eight athletes), and to the 2022 Commonwealth Games (16 athletes). They returned from the Olympics with 11 medals, and 27 from the Commonwealth Games.
Tigg has earned over 15 Coach of the Year awards from various organisations throughout his career, in addition to being named a National Lottery Game Changer in 2024 to honour of his contributions to sport and community.
When asked how he felt about receiving this honorary degree, Tigg described it as “surreal, and something I would have never imagined all those years ago when I first set foot on campus. For me, it means that regardless of where I go or what I do, the University’s valued and principles will forever be carried with me”.
Comments from University of Stirling
Sir Gerry McCormac, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University expressed his congratulations to both Russell and Tigg. He highlighted that Russell “has never forgotten his roots here in Stirlingshire, often supporting the local community with charitable and fundraising efforts”, and Tigg “remains an inspirational ambassador for the University of Stirling at a local, national, and international level.”
Congratulations to both Finn Russell and Steven Tigg.
Image Credit: University of Stirling
Student journalist and Sports Editor for Brig Newspaper
