Get to know York’s newly-retired forward Paul Vaughan as he tackles our 20 Questions.

1 Why did you decide now is the right time to retire?

It was more of a family decision, as I still had a contract at York for next year. But my family are now all back in Australia and they wouldn’t come back next year. So I didn’t want to come back and do a whole year without them and miss out on them growing up.

Physically, I feel really good and knew I could keep going, but it’s not worth it if my family’s not here.

I’ve made the right decision and I’ve gone out the way I wanted to go and made some great memories.

2 How did you feel during your final game against Bradford?

It was a dream. It was such a weird feeling. All I wanted to do as a kid was to play first-grade rugby league, and to play over 300 games over 14 years, represent my country and play State of Origin, it’s so crazy. I’m just really honoured and privileged that I got to experience it and I’m really content and happy.

3 Was your field-goal in that game planned?

Macca (Paul McShane) and I actually spoke about it before the game, but it was weird because the opportunity kind of presented itself and obviously nobody expected it. It was so crazy! I’m just so lucky and blessed to have done it all, and then finish like that.

People don’t always get to finish like that in rugby league; it’s such a hard sport. You get chewed up and spat out, and I’ve seen a lot of people and a lot of my mates not finish the way that they wanted to. But to finish like that is crazy.

4 What does the immediate future hold for you?

Spend time with my family, that’s all I want to do. See my girls and reflect, that’s a big thing. Reflect on my career and spend it with the people that I love. I’ve been over here for four years, so I haven’t spent a lot of time with my family, nieces and nephews, so I’ve got a lot of time to make up for.

5 Now you have retired from playing, would you move into coaching at some point?

I’d love to. I love the game, and think that I have a high IQ for how it is played.

I feel I’ve got a lot to give in the junior development area of the game, where I can pass on my knowledge to the kids coming through, so I’m very open to coaching.

6 What has been your career highlight?

The pinnacle is always representing your country, and I did that twice – even saying that is crazy. And playing State of Origin for New South Wales, winning back-to-back series and being a part of that, it’s so crazy. So probably those two things.

As a young fella, you grow up watching those games, so to experience them first-hand was pretty special.

7 What has been your main memory of your time at York?

Probably that final game against Bradford, but the first game against Hull KR was pretty special as well.

I had a really bad injury when I signed and couldn’t run 50 metres. I was shot to pieces with a really bad groin, but the medical staff got me back playing. It was a long road to get back to the form that I wanted to be in, but the year as a whole has been fantastic.

8 Who did you get closest to within the York squad?

The good thing about the squad was that all the boys are really tight.

There’s a really good camaraderie within the squad and it made things a lot easier for me, as a new bloke coming in, when the group was so tight and everyone got along really well.

9 What are you going to miss most about living in the UK?

I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for the UK now.

The people are lovely. When I was living in Warrington, it was a mad rugby town, and everyone was really nice to me and my family. Looking back on my time in the UK, it’s been pretty special. I’ve got really fond memories, and it’s been a great experience.

It has been a really good life experience for my two young girls to come over and live in another country, especially so far away, and see certain things that maybe other kids wouldn’t back home, whether that be travelling or just being involved in the game. They’ll have made memories that will last forever.

But I definitely won’t miss the winters and the pre-seasons; they’re quite tough.

10 Where do you see yourself in 20 years’ time?

Living by the beach, with my girls and my family all healthy and happy. If that’s the case, I’ll be enjoying life.

11 Who was your rugby league icon growing up?

Adrian Morley. Every time I saw him over here I still felt like a little boy and got a little bit nervous talking to him. I was a massive fan of Moz when he was playing for the Roosters. He was a pretty scary man, but also a great bloke.

12 Who was the toughest player you’ve played against in your career?

Probably Sam Burgess. When he was playing for Souths, he was a great, tough player.

To go on and be coached by him at Warrington was pretty special.

13 If you could travel back in time and relive any moment in either your career or your life, what would it be?

My Origin debut or the birth of my daughters. I’d love to feel both of those feelings again.

14 If you hadn’t been a rugby league player, what would you have been doing instead?

That’s a hard question because I really don’t know. I wasn’t really that great in school, so rugby league is probably the best thing to happen to me.

15 If you could be on any celebrity or reality TV show, which one would it be?

I don’t really watch reality TV, but I watch a show called Beast Games with my daughter, so maybe I could have a crack at that.

16 What hobbies do you have outside of the game?

I actually have quite a lot of hobbies and like playing golf. But back home I used to have a motorbike and I loved to ride that, or be out on the water on a jet ski, but I couldn’t really do much of that in the UK.

17 If you could attend any major sporting event in the world, which would it be?

Conor McGregor fighting in the UFC – I’d love to see that. UFC is wild to watch and I am a big fan of Conor.

18 What is your favourite film?

It’s not a film, but I did watch Queen of the South recently and that is a great show. It’s one of my favourites, so I’ll go for that rather than a film.

19 Is there a go-to song or artist on your playlist?

I am a big fan of Dire Straits, so anything by them. I have never seen them live but would love to one day.

20 What is your ideal night out or night in?

Watching a movie with my kids and eating chocolate lollies. Just relaxing with them is the best.

First published in Rugby League World magazine, Issue 525 (October 2026)