At the end of his second year at Leeds Beckett University, Stuart van der Merwe signed his first professional contract with Northamptonshire.
However, with nearly 140 miles between the cinch County Ground and his student accommodation, van der Merwe faced a considerable challenge to both his academic and cricketing career.
Faced with the prospect of potentially leaving university to be able to commit to his cricket career, fortunately, van der Merwe eventually found a way to complete his final year online through the University of Hertfordshire.
However, as the course moved entirely online, technology became absolutely integral to his studies, as lectures, seminars and all assignments were digitised.
Brand new in 2026, the PCA launched the Lucidica Tech Award to help rookie and new professional cricketers balance cricket alongside studying and/or pursuing other career paths.
After hearing about the award from his Personal Development Manager, the top-order batter applied, along with nine newly signed professional players, and came out as this year’s winner, claiming an iPad and a Microsoft 365 subscription.
His BA in Sports Business Management explores the economic, legal, and media issues around sport, and demands that students are able to access a range of digital tools for essay writing, data analysis and other online resources.
The batter’s win not only allows him to complete his final year of university, securing his BA, but gives him the tools to thrive in a remote-learning environment alongside his fledgling cricket career.
With the new award, the partnership between the PCA and IT company Lucidica continues to strengthen and directly benefit players. Find out more about Lucidica here.
”Time management is probably the biggest key and I think that comes with anything in life.”
Stuart van der MerweNorthamptonshire
Q&A’s
How did you find out about the Lucidica Tech Award and what made you decide to enter?
van der Merwe: “I received a WhatsApp message from our PCA PDM, Laura, letting us know about the Lucidica Tech Award and the chance to win an iPad for players studying at university. Having recently made the transition from in-person university to studying online, I thought it was a complete no-brainer to apply.”
How have you found managing university alongside your professional cricket career?
van der Merwe: “I spent my first two years studying at Leeds Beckett, but after getting signed at the end of last year, balancing full-time studying with winter training proved quite tough. I transferred to Hertfordshire University to complete my third year online. It’s far more flexible, which allows me to focus on developing my cricket while still ensuring I have something solid behind me.”
What were the biggest obstacles you faced when trying to balance studying with training?
van der Merwe: “When studying in person, flexibility was limited. Commuting between Leeds and Northampton for training meant trying to fit my cricket around my university schedule. Now, with online studying, it’s completely flexible around my cricket. As I prepare to head out to Australia for the winter, I can focus fully on cricket while picking up or pausing my studies whenever I need to.”
What was the application process like for the award?
van der Merwe: “It was really straightforward, just a simple form asking a few questions about where you are studying and what course you’re doing. It only took a few minutes to fill out.”
How will having the new iPad and Microsoft subscriptions support your studies?
van der Merwe: “Having a new iPad makes a huge difference compared to the old one I was using, especially in terms of speed and Wi-Fi connectivity. With my course being entirely essay-based, having access to Microsoft 365 tools and Copilot on a modern device will benefit my assignment work massively. Time management is probably the biggest key and I think that comes with anything in life.”
Why is PCA support like the Lucidica Tech Award so valuable for professional players?
van der Merwe: “The PCA does an incredible amount for players, and this award is another great example of that support. Being backed by the PCA to work on another area of your life and build a ‘Plan B’ gives you complete peace of mind. It gives you the confidence to focus on cricket knowing you’re preparing for your future at the same time.”
