WITH rugby league being such a short career – often less than two decades – rugby league players need to have some irons in the fire regarding what to do beyond life on the field.
Some, like Daryl Powell, Paul Rowley and Ian Watson went into coaching whilst others exit the sport completely.
It’s also interesting to think about what other line of work rugby league players would have gone into had they not been so successful on the field.
One man that could have made a name for himself in the aviation industry is new Huddersfield Giants signing Adam Swift.
At 30 years of age, Swift has signed a three-year deal with the West Yorkshire club, but he also has an advanced engineering apprenticeship to his name.
It may well have been over a decade ago, but would the winger ever contemplate a return to that field upon retiring?
“I have and I haven’t thought about it. I finished high school and I got an advanced engineering apprenticeship where I was building parts for aeroplanes,” Swift told League Express.
“When I was done with that, I put that on the backburner and started playing first-grade with St Helens. I’ve always got those qualifications to fall back on but would I do that? I’m not sure yet.”
Swift does, however, know that he needs to put a plan in place for serious contemplation at the end of the 2024 Super League season.
“I have some stuff in the pipeline that I’m thinking about doing, but I’ve got three years at Huddersfield to put my rugby and family first and concentrate on that type of stuff.
“But, I will start implementing some things towards the end of this year to get a plan for retirement.”
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