Chiefs focus on life after rugby

Players from high flying Exeter Chiefs had the chance to explore off the field opportunities with key figures from the local business community, when they attended The Rugby Players' Association Business Club Networking Evening held at the Exeter office of law firm Ashfords LLP.

The event was part of the career and education scheme that is part of the RPA's Player Development Programme, which provides support to players preparing for life when they retire from playing professional rugby.  

Guests from sectors including education, property and construction, finance, sport, events management, consultancy, charities and the media gave the players a valuable insight into different potential career paths, enabling them to assess their options for life after rugby.

Chiefs' scrum half and RPA Player Representative Haydn Thomas was full of praise for the event:
"I thought The RPA Networking evening was a great success. It was well attended and the feedback from the players was very positive. It is tough as a professional rugby player to know what to do when you retire. The event helped me make contacts that I plan to chase up in the not too distant future. I hope that these contacts will help me find out if their industry is for me. Exploring these avenues will hopefully give me a better idea of future careers."

Haydn's sentiments were echoed by Rory Mac Neice of Ashfords Solicitors:
"We were delighted to host Exeter's first RPA Business Club Networking Evening. It was a fantastic event that was very well supported by both players and local business. The relaxed and yet professional format of the evening provided a wonderful opportunity for Exeter Chiefs' players to learn about the work of, and explore potential synergies with, representatives from a varied range of regional business sectors, and also gave the businessmen and women that attended a chance to find out about the players' on and off field ambitions. Partnering business and sport in this way creates a perfect forum to share ideas and make worthwhile connections."