Physical Education senior lecturer Craig Pulling will join the team during their training camp in July before flying with them to watch their final preparation match against France.

Students joining the University in September will be the first to benefit from Craig’s experience as they will learn how to coach handball as part of the new PE and Sports Coaching undergraduate degree.

Craig, who is a qualified handball coach and has taught the sport in secondary schools, said: "Handball is becoming more popular in the UK and many schools are beginning to play the game. This trip will improve my knowledge of elite handball and support my teaching of handball at the University.

"I also hope to establish links with the coaches and the team to potentially enable opportunities for our students to experience elite handball."

Hungary has a strong tradition in handball and the country consistently appears at the World and European Championships.

Fellow senior lecturer Dr Laszlo Nemeth also has strong links with the national coach and assistant coach, and Craig has previously been involved with taught handball sessions at the Faculty of Physical Education and Sport Sciences (TF) at Semmelweis University in Hungary in 2011.

Image credit: London 2012

By Stuart Appleby