The work is never over, even when the boots are hung up.
Join RUCK’s Instagram broadcast channel and get the latest rugby news straight to your phone.
Professional rugby is a relatively short career when compared to the non-sporting world. With the likes of All Blacks anomaly, 44-year-old Ma’a Nonu to one side, a pro rugby player typically bows out from the game in the late 30s to early 40s mark, having left it all on the line for their club and country.
However, even with the more luxurious pay packets of France and Japan in the modern game, players can by no means settle into retired living and still need to bring in the dough. In this article, we are taking a look at 10 of the most weird and wonderful post rugby careers, that have ever come to light following the end of a player’s on field playing days.
10 FORMER RUGBY STARS WITH UNIQUE JOBS AFTER RETIREMENT
1. Jack McGrath – Beekeeper
Former Ireland and British & Irish Lions prop Jack McGrath has swapped scrums for swarms after moving into the world of beekeeping.
The 56-cap Ireland international, who played in all three Tests for the Lions against New Zealand in 2017, first became seriously involved in beekeeping during the Covid lockdown.
It wasn’t completely out of the blue, either. McGrath is a third-generation beekeeper, with the unusual passion already running in his family.
He became involved with OpenHive, an Irish conservation organisation dedicated to protecting and breeding the native Irish black honeybee, and eventually became a partner in the business.
McGrath initially kept two hives on the roof of his home and admitted he had “jumped in at the deep end” while learning the trade.
The former Leinster and Ulster loosehead officially retired from professional rugby in 2023 following persistent hip problems, having won three Six Nations titles with Ireland as well as two European Champions Cups with Leinster.
These days, he’s helping protect Ireland’s native bees – certainly a different type of buzz to running out in front of 80,000 rugby supporters.
2. Steve Thompson – Craft Beer Entrepreneur
The 2003 World Cup-winning England and British & Irish Lions hooker traded the scrum for the brewhouse. Thompson is a director and shareholder for the Powder Monkey Brewing Co Group. He launched a dedicated range of craft beers with them named Hop & Hooker, turning his post-rugby passion into a major commercial beverage enterprise.
DID YOU KNOW? In December 2020, Thompson, aged 42, revealed that he had been diagnosed with early onset dementia with probable CTE. He is a leading spokesperson in the fight to make rugby union a safer sport.
3. Shane Monahan – Professional Fine Artist
The former Gloucester, Connacht, and Munster winger swapped the physical canvas of the pitch for a literal one. Always highly creative, Monahan transitioned into a successful professional fine artist and painter after retirement. His vibrant, commissioned art pieces are highly sought after—he even painted a custom piece presented to legend Johnny Sexton upon his retirement.
DID YOU KNOW? Shane Monahan played for three of the four Irish provinces. He began his career with the Leinster Academy in 2010 and made one first team cap before joining Connacht the following year. In 2017, Monahan signed for Munster.
4. Richie McCaw – Helicopter Pilot
The legendary, two-time World Cup-winning All Blacks captain took his career straight into the sky. After winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup and successfully retaining the Web Ellis Trophy as the first ever back-to-back captain, McCaw became a helicopter pilot and Director and sharehold co-owner of Christchurch Helicopters. He has previously flown rescue, reconnaissance, and commercial missions across New Zealand. The former Crusaders man assisted with rescues throughout the 2016 Kaikōura Earthquake.
DID YOU KNOW? Richie McCaw is quite the musician with an affinity for playing the bagpipes of all instruments!
