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Q: I often ask veteran players about what they’ve learned along the way. Here’s your moment to share some wisdom: what would you tell a young player, looking to launch a career in a sport they love?

The importance of life after rugby, and planning for that day, when you no longer get paid to play the sport you love. You want to ensure that you have security in order to provide for yourself and your family. I have been lucky enough to play professional rugby for eight seasons now in the Greene King IPA Championship. The league does not come with massive exposure or fanfare like you see in the Premiership — large crowds, big contracts and amazing perks — and it is made up of players all looking to pursue their dream of someday making the Premiership or in my case playing for my country and continuing to develop as a player to the highest level I possibly could. The league does suffer from a few discrepancies compared to its bigger brother, a lot of which comes down to the lack of player welfare, in the form of suitable contract lengths, medical insurance, and no minimum level of salaries.

My only comment on this topic is that I hope the powers that be put their heads together to keep this league sustainable for the long term and provide the investment that it desperately needs to remain fully professional, because at this stage there are few players earning a reasonable and secure living.

After my first of three years at Plymouth Albion, I decided to ensure I had a fall-back plan in case rugby was a short-lived career for me. I started my MBA via distance learning so that I could fit it around my schedule, which, between UK and Canadian rugby commitments, was always busy. I completed my degree in 2014 and while playing my last two seasons for Doncaster Knights, I was lucky enough to land a part time role as a Business Consultant for a mining company. This allowed me to gain some much needed experience and alongside my MBA, helped me to secure my new career in finance for Goldman Sachs. Luckily enough this also means I am able to continue playing part time in the Greene King IPA Championship with my new club Richmond FC.