LIST: 5 rugby stars who had unexpected jobs after retiring

Monday, 08 March 2021 at 16:07

byRugby Rucker

There are some rugby stars who took up some unexpected jobs after they hung up their boots and retired. Here are five of them.

5. Richie McCaw - Helicopter pilot

It was revealed at his retirement announcement in 2015 that McCaw would work at Christchurch Helicopters, where he is a Director and Shareholder, and was obtaining a commercial helicopter licence.

McCaw has since obtained said licence and has continued working as a helicopter pilot. He flew several rescue and reconnaissance missions following the 2016 Kaikoura earthquake that struck the South Island.

He also performed milk drops around rural areas of New Zealand while having an endorsement with Fonterra, in which his sister and her husband are dairy farmers.

4. Scott Quinnell – Candles

The former Wales No. 8 is often on the TV - whether he is presenting the show School of Hard Knocks, popping up in Stella, or as a Postcode Lottery ambassador. He is also a hugely popular Sky Sports rugby pundit. However, away from rugby he is managing director of family business Quinnell Candles, which he runs with his family.

3. Martin Bayfield - Actor

Unexpectedly, Bayfield appeared in all of the Harry Potter films playing the half-giant Hagrid, as Robbie Coltrane's body and stunt double. He also appeared in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, as a young Rubeus Hagrid. Continuing the acting theme, he also played a cyclops in Jonathan Liebesman's Wrath of the Titans, the sequel to 2010 movie Clash of the Titans.

2. Olly Kohn - Sausages

Along with is two brothers, Josh and Max, the former Harlequins man launched a family-run sausage brand. The Jolly Hog journey began when Kohn’s wife bought him a sausage-making machine in 2008. The Jolly Hog business, which has 15 full-time employees, registered turnover of £1.3m last year.

1. James Haskell - MMA

After hanging up hos boots, Haskell signed to mixed martial arts promotion Bellator MMA as part of its Heavyweight division. Haskell had previously done analysis and commentary work for English promotions such as BAMMA and CFF.

In February 2020, it was announced that Haskell would make his professional mixed martial arts debut on 16 May 2020 at Wembley's SSE Arena. The event was ultimately postponed due to the Coronavirus outbreak.