Lukę Cowan-Dickie now set to sign for Gallagher Premiership side
Rugby NewsMonday, 29 May 2023 at 13:47
Lukę Cowan-Dickie has decided to turn down an enticing opportunity to play in France and instead join one of Exeter Chiefs' direct rivals in the Premiership.
Contrary to previous reports in The Rugby Paper linking the hooker with a move to Stade Francais, the Mail Online reveals that he will be joining Sale Sharks.
The addition of another British and Irish Lion to Sale Sharks' pack would be a significant boost for the team, especially after their loss in the Premiership finals, where a malfunctioning lineout played a part in their defeat against Saracens.
If the deal comes to fruition, it would also be a welcome development for national coach Steve Borthwick, as Cowan-Dickie's eligibility for Test selection after this year's World Cup would be secured.
According to the latest report, Cowan-Dickie is currently experiencing a slow and frustrating recovery from neck surgery.
Nonetheless, he has already completed one medical examination at Sale Sharks, and if he successfully completes a second one, he will join Jonny Hill and Tom O'Flaherty in making the move from Exeter to the Sharks.
Navidi, Jones, Hogg and Sexton reveal new careers after confirming retirement
We take a look at the interesting career moves that a number of soon to be retired rugby players are making...
#1. Josh Navidi
Together with his friend Jack Wilkins, he operates a thriving car dealership known as Cute Club. Additionally, he is a renowned DJ who frequently performs in the Cardiff nightlife scene.
"It started off with me just buying my own cars, driving them, and then selling them the next year because I've always been a petrol head," he told Wales Online.
"I've always had sporty cars but now I go for stuff with less fuel, and I've always changed my cars every year.
"I started going to auctions for my own stuff and then boys were asking me what's the best VIP deal with all these lease deals that we get offered.
"I was advising some of the Cardiff boys for years on how to get the best deals for cars, and some boys were asking for cars you couldn't get on the VIP scheme.
"They wanted all sorts like performance cars and one thing led to another.
"Boys started asking about finance and then it led me down that path, then into warranties, and then we would just meet people day to day.
"Now we have got a forecourt, and we are a car dealership which buys and sells cars.
"We are open from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, but we take appointments in the evenings, and on the weekend."
#2. Alun Wyn Jones
Ahead of retirement, Jones’ off-the-field move into the drinks industry has seen him create a coffee-infused rum named Mimosa.
The brand celebrates the pioneering spirit of the Welsh people who embarked on a life-changing voyage to Patagonia in Argentina in the 19th century.
That voyage began in 1865 when a ship named the Mimosa set sail from Liverpool with 153 passengers on board who dreamed of establishing Welsh-speaking communities in Patagonia.
George North give it a tremendous review, saying: "It tastes 😍"
Alun Wyn Jones facts:
He is the first player in the professional era to have played in nine consecutive Tests for the Lions having been involved in all three series
Alun Wyn Jones has a law degree from Swansea University and he graduated in 2010
nothing. Second rows wearing white rugby boots was quite unusual. That’s how he got the nickname Alun Gwyn Boots
His father, Tim Jones, was a respected solicitor who also played rugby for Swansea, and his funeral in 2016 drew hundreds from the legal and rugby worlds. One of life’s true characters.
Wife of the Lions captain and mum to their two daughters Mali and Efa, Anwen, who is a doctor of physiology, is a Welsh-speaking physiology lecturer at Cardiff’s Metropolitan University.
#3. Stuart Hogg
After confirming his retirement, Hogg said in a statement: "A new career beckons and I will attack in the same manner as I play the game."
The Scotland legend has revealed he isn't too keen on coaching, but will remain in the game as a pundit after making his debut on BBC during the 2023 Six Nations.
PUNDITRY:
Sources tell RUCK that BT Sport (soon to be TNT Sports) are keen. to recruit the fullback as a key part of their 2023/24 Premiership coverage.
RESTAURANT OWNER:
He is the co-owner of steak house Finsbay Flatiron in Glasgow.
The focus for Finsbay Flatiron is steak, specialising in 8oz flat irons (as the name suggests) and steaks from £8 on weekdays and £10 on weekends, as well as sides like mac and cheese and triple cooked chips.
DISTILLERY:
He's a director of a distillery named Maiden Batch.
Caulker's is a collaborative effort between five Glasgow men, two of whom happen to be British Lions and Scotland rugby internationals, Hogg and Alastair Kellock. The bottle is signed by all five.
#4. Johnny Sexton
The veteran fly-half, who will hang up his boots following the 2023 Rugby World Cup, confirmed in an interview with the Irish Times that he likely won't go into coaching.
Sexton said: "I would never say never, you never know what life is going to throw at you
“It wouldn’t be my plan straight away, if an offer came in, it wouldn’t be right for me to coach with guys I played with the last number of years.
"I certainly wouldn’t want to jeopardise this year, because if they find out you’re coaching them, the relationship changes straight away. I won’t be doing it for the foreseeable future.
"Rugby is my passion, it’s all I’ve known. I’ve been doing it for 20 years, longer maybe, when I was a kid. But I think it’s important to step away from it to try another walk of life. And then we’ll see what happens."
Andy Farrell, Head Coach of Ireland and Johnny Sexton, Captain of Ireland pose with the Guinness Six Nations trophy during the 2023 Guinness Six Nations Media Launch at County Hall, Lambeth, London on Monday 23rd January 2023 | Photo: James Fearn/PPAUK.
“I’ll go and see if I can do something in the business world, I’ve been doing a bit of work experience there over the last few years, one day a week, so I’ll go into that and see how it goes.
“It might not be for me. I might get the itch straight away and come out of retirement, play for St Marys!”
The previous year saw a significant rise in accumulated profits at the management company owned by Johnny Sexton, the renowned rugby captain of Ireland.
The profits surged by nearly £307,000, reaching an impressive total of almost £2.5m.
#5. Jack Nowell
The England and Exeter Chiefs winger is the co-owner of The Swordfish Inn back in his hometown of Cornwall.
Sitting on the harbourfront, the pub has been a favourite of local fishermen, artists and visitors alike for as long as anyone cares to remember and is well-known for its rugged charm and atmosphere.
He is also a director of .
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