Rugby is a short career and with the physicality of the professional game, players need to think about what careers to pursue after they retire.
Even at the elite level players will not have the luxury afforded to many professional footballers whose exorbitant wages mean they don’t have to worry about new careers after their playing days are over.
But there are plenty of examples of players who have forged successful business careers after retiring or while they’re still playing rugby…
Here are eight of our favourites:
1. Jamie Heaslip
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Heaslip has not let his successful rugby career get in the way of his other interests. He has a degree in medical engineering from DCU and has invested in some businesses.
This includes a share in Bear restaurant on South William Street, Dublin and in the company behind the Lovin’ Dublin website.
He also became involved in the pub trade in 2014 when, along with publican Noel Anderson and his Leinster teammates Sean O’Brien and the Kearney brothers, he opened the Bridge 1859 in Ballsbridge.
Heaslip spoke to ThinkBusiness about his experiences as an entrepreneur.