Finn Russell teases quitting rugby for left field career when he retires from the game
Rugby NewsThursday, 02 May 2024 at 11:23
Let's take a moment to honour the international rugby stars who paved their way through different paths before achieving fame in the sport we cherish.
Join the RUCK’s WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
In today's highly competitive landscape, where success often demands undivided commitment, discovering players who transitioned from regular day jobs to professional sports in a matter of months is a rarity.
Here, we celebrate five such remarkable individuals:
#1. Finn Russell (Scotland) - Former Stonemason
Bath and Scotland fly-half Finn Russell is now the highest-paid Premiership player
Hailing from a lineage of athletes—his grandparents excelled in international badminton, and his uncle and great-grandfather proudly represented Scotland in cricket—Russell's journey to rugby stardom is as unconventional as it is inspiring.
Following his secondary education, the Scottish prodigy embarked on a three-year apprenticeship as a stonemason, under the mentorship of a family acquaintance, all the while honing his rugby skills. Earning £300 weekly, supplemented by an additional £50 from Falkirk Rugby Club, Russell emerged as one of the globe's foremost fly-halves, renowned for his electrifying style of play.
During those early days, his parents shouldered the burden of his car payments, but today, he cruises in luxury with an Aston Martin—a testament to his phenomenal rise in the rugby world.
"On rainy days it could be pretty miserable. . . . It could be tough but I enjoyed it," said Russell.
"I’d be making windowsills, door frames, fire places – even building walls. But compared to playing rugby, it’s night and day.
"If I ever have a bad day at training, I think back to what it was like working in that cold shed.
"I would like to return to some sort of trade though when I retire."
In 2015, Russell added to The Herald: "I've still got a year of my apprenticeship left - it's quite annoying, actually.
“After the World Cup I hope to get back into that and try and get it finished. It would be good to get the ticket so I've got that done.
“I've done all the college work so I just need to serve my time."
#2. Joe Launchbury (England) - Supermarket
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
#3.Karl Tu'inukuafe (New Zealand)
Mustachioed man mountain propl Tu'inukuafe has gone from 27-stone nightclub bouncer to Test tyro. He only made his Super Rugby debut lain 2018 but has already racked up 24 caps for the All Blacks.
#1. Sam Underhill (England) - Painter/Decorator
Before securing a professional contract, the future England superstar served an apprenticeship under his Granddad as a painter and decorator.
The 26-year-old, who likes keeping busy, hasn't ruled out a return to the trade when his rugby days are done.
Sam Underhill of England during the Autumn Nations Match between England and South Africa at Twickenham Stadium on 20 November 2021. Photo: Tom Sandberg/PPAUK
#5. Liam Williams (Wales) - Scaffolder
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” back in Wales.
TRENDING
LATEST NEWS
LATEST COMMENTS
Loading
