A career in professional rugby can provide you with valuable financial opportunities, but it will not last forever.
Whether retirement comes through injury, a change in selection, or a personal decision to pursue a new direction, thinking about life beyond the game should be an important part of your financial planning.
Furthering your education could help you prepare for the next stage of your life journey.
A degree or a vocational qualification can give you specialist knowledge, build transferable skills, and help you access opportunities you may not have considered while focused on your rugby career.
The challenge is finding a course that fits your interests, playing commitments, and financial circumstances.
Here are five degrees that could help you prepare for a successful second career once you hang up your boots.
1. Sports management
If you want to stay in a sporting environment after your playing career, a sports management degree could help you transition smoothly into life after competing.
For one thing, your playing experience will have given you valuable insight into the needs and challenges of professional sport. A degree in this field can help you understand the business and administrative responsibilities involved behind the scenes.
A sports management degree will cover key issues, including:
- Event management
- Sports marketing and promotion
- Sponsorship.
It will also give you a detailed understanding of financial structures and a broader view of the commercial side of professional sport.
These subjects could be relevant if you want to work for a rugby club, governing body, sports agency, or event organiser, with potential career paths including club operations, player development, commercial management, and sports administration.
2. Business management
If you enjoyed leading and making decisions under pressure during your playing career, a business management degree could be an ideal way to translate those skills into a post-rugby career.
Employers value the skills professional rugby instils, including teamwork, discipline, and resilience. A business degree can build on these strengths by introducing you to finance, marketing, strategy, and people management.
It can also be valuable if you have not decided which career to pursue, want a strong understanding of key issues in business development, or hope to establish your own business, whether that is in sport or a completely different industry.
3. Finance and accounting
If you enjoy working with numbers and understanding how money works, a degree in finance or accounting could be worth considering.
Studying finance could help you develop a deeper understanding of business, investment principles, and financial decision-making.
These skills can help not only in your future career but also in managing your personal finances. Understanding tax, budgeting, and long-term financial planning can be valuable as you prepare for a transition away from rugby.
Career opportunities might include accountancy, banking, insurance, or even staying in the game and working in the finance department of a club or sports organisation.
4. Teaching and education
A degree in education, sport, or a related subject could lead to career opportunities in schools, colleges, or community sport.
Bear in mind, however, that you may need additional teacher training or a recognised professional qualification.
Potential roles you could explore include physical education teaching, coaching, sports development, or supporting young people. If you have a particular interest in another subject (maybe from your original degree course), you could consider following that as a specialism.
If you want to stay involved in rugby, this degree could support a career in coaching at school, academy, or community level and help you stay connected to the game alongside a new career.
5. Psychology
As you will know, professional rugby places considerable demands on your mental resilience and ability to perform under pressure.
To better understand these factors, a psychology degree could open several career possibilities.
Psychology graduates work across a wide range of sectors, including human resources, research, education, and business.
A degree in this field can also open doors in specialist areas such as performance psychology or athlete wellbeing.
However, becoming a qualified sport and exercise psychologist will require further accredited study and supervised training.
The subject can also build useful skills in communication, understanding behaviour, and managing relationships, which are valuable well beyond sport.
Make education part of your financial plan
Studying while playing professional rugby can be demanding, but flexible or part-time courses may let you develop new skills without immediately giving up your playing income.
Before enrolling, consider tuition fees, living costs, the time required for study, and whether your club offers educational support. Check your eligibility for student finance and understand the repayment terms before taking on additional borrowing.
Also consider the opportunity cost. Time spent studying could affect your ability to take on additional work, commercial opportunities, or other activities, so consider how the course fits alongside your playing commitments.
Most importantly, do not assume a degree will automatically lead to a high-paying job. Work experience, networking, and relevant professional qualifications may also be essential.
Get in touch
If you would like to talk about the financial issues around studying for a degree and your post-rugby career, please get in touch.
Email enquiries@dbl-am.com or call 01625 529499 to speak to us today.
Please note
This article is for general information only and does not constitute advice. The information is aimed at individuals only.
All information is correct at the time of writing and is subject to change in the future.