5 rugby players who had normal jobs before turning professional

Let's explore some of the intriguing jobs taken on by these athletes in recent times...

After secondary school, the Scotland star pursued an apprenticeship for three years as a stonemason, in a business owned by a family friend, whilst his rugby developed.

Pocketing £300 per week, supplemented by £50 in his hand from Falkirk Rugby Club, Russell is now one of the pre-eminent stand-offs in world rugby and certainly one of the most exciting.

This is the picture that illustrates the heights Williams has scaled to reach international rugby, starting off as a scaffolder. It wasn’t work for the faint-hearted, with Williams rigging scaffolding “over the top of a blast furnace, 300 feet from the ground”.

As part of his university course, Harris was required to do a few days work experience with a construction firm. At Story Homes, he was taken through each role of the various technicians, gaining a better insight to what was involved. However, instead of pursuing a career in Architecture, he was offered a professional contract by Newcastle Falcons aged 21.

After being released by Harlequins aged 18, the future England second-row ended up getting a job in the local Sainsbury's to ensure he could continue his rugby career with National 2 North side Worthing. He worked in the bakery section and says it was a 'good grounding' for him and made him appreciate what hard work is 

er years, Hill joined the local club Luctonians at the age of nine. However, he soon developed a preference for football. A setback in his college application led him to an unplanned gap year, during which he worked on his family's farm.

Subsequently, Hill decided to rejoin Luctonians. At the age of 17, he was persuaded to participate in a walk-up trial at Hartpury College. To his delight, he impressed during the trial and secured a spot on the first-team lineup at the National League Two South side.

Before securing a professional contract, the future England superstar served an apprenticeship under his Granddad as a painter and decorator. The 24-year-old, who likes keeping busy, hasn't ruled out a return to the trade when his rugby days are done.

At just 27 years old, this Welsh Rugby Union player has not only shown his prowess on the field as a tighthead prop for the Cardiff Blues since his debut in 2014 but has also proven himself to be a shrewd entrepreneur. Meet Lewis, who has a real "head" for business.

When Lewis and his teammate Brad Thyer noticed how much money they and their fellow players were spending on their daily cups of Joe, they decided to take matters into their own hands. In 2017, they founded a coffee company together, offering an alternative to the expensive coffee shop options.

Their venture quickly gained momentum, attracting a substantial social media following. They expanded their business with an eCommerce website and even introduced a subscription service for fellow coffee addicts. Notably, their brand has become the unofficial coffee of choice for Cardiff rugby, gaining popularity among players and fans alike.

As Lewis continues to excel in his rugby career, he can rest assured that he has a promising and profitable side hustle to fall back on once he decides to retire his jersey for good.