Rugby’s wildest career changes: Sexton joins the police, Lion becomes beekeeper

, turning his post-rugby passion into a major commercial beverage enterprise.

Professional rugby is a relatively short career when compared to the non-sporting world. With the likes of All Blacks anomaly, 44-year-old Ma'a Nonu to one side, a pro rugby player typically bows out from the game in the late 30s to early 40s mark, having left it all on the line for their club and country.

However, even with the more luxurious pay packets of France and Japan in the modern game, players can by no means settle into retired living and still need to bring in the dough. In this article, we are taking a look at 10 of the most weird and wonderful post rugby careers, that have ever come to light following the end of a player's on field playing days.

Former Ireland and British & Irish Lions prop Jack McGrath has swapped scrums for swarms after moving into the world of beekeeping.

The 56-cap Ireland international, who played in all three Tests for the Lions against New Zealand in 2017, first became seriously involved in beekeeping during the Covid lockdown.

It wasn't completely out of the blue, either. McGrath is a third-generation beekeeper, with the unusual passion already running in his family.

He became involved with OpenHive, an Irish conservation organisation dedicated to protecting and breeding the native Irish black honeybee, and eventually became a partner in the business.

McGrath initially kept two hives on the roof of his home and admitted he had "jumped in at the deep end" while learning the trade.

The former Leinster and Ulster loosehead officially retired from professional rugby in 2023 following persistent hip problems, having won three Six Nations titles with Ireland as well as two European Champions Cups with Leinster.

These days, he's helping protect Ireland's native bees – certainly a different type of buzz to running out in front of 80,000 rugby supporters.

The 2003 World Cup-winning England and British & Irish Lions hooker traded the scrum for the brewhouse. Thompson is a director and shareholder for the Powder Monkey Brewing Co Group. He launched a dedicated range of craft beers with them named Hop & Hooker

DID YOU KNOW? In December 2020, Thompson, aged 42, revealed that he had been diagnosed with early onset dementia with probable CTE. He is a leading spokesperson in the fight to make rugby union a safer sport.

The former Gloucester, Connacht, and Munster winger swapped the physical canvas of the pitch for a literal one. Always highly creative, Monahan transitioned into a successful professional fine artist and painter after retirement. His vibrant, commissioned art pieces are highly sought after—he even painted a custom piece presented to legend Johnny Sexton upon his retirement.

DID YOU KNOW? Shane Monahan played for three of the four Irish provinces. He began his career with the Leinster Academy in 2010 and made one first team cap before joining Connacht the following year. In 2017, Monahan signed for Munster.

The legendary, two-time World Cup-winning All Blacks captain took his career straight into the sky. After winning the 2015 Rugby World Cup and successfully retaining the Web Ellis Trophy as the first ever back-to-back captain, McCaw became a helicopter pilot and Director and sharehold co-owner of Christchurch Helicopters. He has previously flown rescue, reconnaissance, and commercial missions across New Zealand. The former Crusaders man assisted with rescues throughout the 2016 Kaikōura Earthquake.

DID YOU KNOW? Richie McCaw is quite the musician with an affinity for playing the bagpipes of all instruments!

The former Cardiff Blues, Ospreys, and Newport Gwent Dragons winger made one of the most solemn career pivots in sports history. While still playing professional rugby, Mustoe began training in the deathcare industry. Upon retirement, he moved into the profession full-time as a fully qualified funeral director, managing wakes and funeral arrangements.

DID YOU KNOW: Richard Mustoe earned international honours with the Wales Sevens team.

After an injury forced the Harlequins and Wales lock to retire in 2013, Kohn turned a quirky hobby into a business. Having experimented with a sausage-making machine in his flat, he teamed up with his brothers to launch The Jolly Hog. They transitioned from cooking premium, artisanal bangers outside Twickenham Stadium to stocking major supermarkets nationwide.

DID YOU KNOW: Kohn won the  Premiership with Harlequins in 2011-12, starting in the final against Leicester Tigers.

Former professional rugby player Jerry Sexton has swapped the second row for the police force following the end of his playing career.

The younger brother of Ireland legend Johnny Sexton, Jerry carved out his own career in the professional game, playing in England and France during a well-travelled spell as a lock.

His clubs included London Irish and Exeter Chiefs, while he also spent time in France with Auch and later represented Jersey Reds in the Championship.

Sexton's rugby career came to an end following Jersey Reds' financial collapse in 2023, which left the club's players and staff without jobs just months after they had won the Championship title.

Rather than remaining in professional rugby, Sexton embarked on a dramatic career change and joined the police.

It's certainly a world away from packing down in the second row – and makes Sexton's post-rugby career one of the more unexpected on this list.

Before he was a global wine icon, Bertrand was a fierce French rugby union flanker and captain of RC Narbonne. Following the tragic death of his father, he took over the family's estate. He completely revolutionized the vineyards to build the globally famous Gérard Bertrand wine company, becoming one of the most renowned organic winemakers in the South of France.

DID YOU KNOW? In 2013, Bertrand was awarded the title of Red Winemaker of the Year 2012 in the International Wine Challenge.

While currently a world-class fly-half for Scotland and Bath, Russell spent his formative years working in a cold manual trade. For three years after secondary school, he worked as a fully apprenticed stonemason, earning £300 a week for three years. He spent his days in freezing sheds cutting windowsills, building stone walls, and crafting fireplaces before hitting the big leagues. The self-declared Lionel Messi of Rugby has not yet hinted at plying his trade once hanging up his mercurial boots, but only time will tell for the resident Scottish maverick.

DID YOU KNOW? Russell made his international debut against the United States in 2014, and has since played over eighty test matches for Scotland. 

The former Ulster, Connacht, and Rotherham Titans hooker was forced to retire from professional rugby due to a series of severe concussions. Instead of staying in sports management, he turned his creative focus entirely to the kitchen. Today, he is widely celebrated as an artisan baker, pastry creator, and culinary content creator known across social media platforms as the "Hungry Hooker". He creates high-end sweet and savory baked goods, running specialized workshops and cookery events.

DID YOU KNOW? Murphy has represented Ireland internationally at age group level. He was part of the Irish under-18s in 2009 and 2010.