New ball game for retirees

RETIREMENT: Gerry Thornleytalks to IRUPA chief executive Niall Woods about a new survey which looks at life after a professional rugby career

THE IRUPA chief executive Niall Woods was prompted to conduct a survey amongst retired ex-professional Irish rugby players because there is relatively little research into this area even though the professional game is now 13 years old. The game has evolved like never before in that time, yet there is relatively little feedback out there to help administrators or players alike cope with the inevitable changes retirement brings.

Some research was conducted by IRUPA's English equivalent, which Woods took part in as a former London Irish player, and mainly focused on the effects of injuries. Woods had the idea for some years, but particularly to assist Hamish Adams and the Player Services Programme which Adams oversees for IRUPA, and so BDO Simpson Xavier Consultants were contracted to independently conduct the survey. Of almost 100 former Irish players who had experience of playing professionally, there was a 56 per cent response, which Woods was informed is a good ratio.

"Obviously the sport has got a lot more physical over the last number of years, so we wanted to see what effects this has had down the road. How many retired through injury? How many needed surgery? So current players now could see some hard facts."

While professional rugby has become more physical, Woods points out there has been no paralysis injury as yet in Ireland, though there have been, unfortunately, in amateur rugby.

"We need to look at areas to ensure we avoid future case of paralysis injuries altogether, in all area of rugby," says Woods.

The most common injuries to bring about retirement, according to the survey, are to the knees, ankles, shoulders and back. A sad finding is that of those players forced to retire directly as a result of injury, 72 per cent are in regular pain or discomfort as a result of injuries sustained during their playing career. Hence, nearly half of players can no longer play rugby of any kind due to injuries received during their career. This affects their quality of life, and limits or denies them the opportunity to play socially or even with their children to a degree. The ravages of an amateur career can be just as bad, Woods agrees, and names several from that era.

With medical care so much better nowadays the physical effects of a professional playing career could easily be reduced. This is especially important as very few players are set up for life upon retirement - an average premiership footballer in England earns in a week what most Irish rugby players earn in a year.

Average earnings are slightly distorted by the better paid marquee names, such as Brian O'Driscoll, Paul O'Connell and Ronan O'Gara. But excluding the top 30 who are on more lucrative international contracts, Woods estimates the average basic salary of his members is around €70,000-80,000 per annum.

It's also ironic to think that with the advent of professionalism, the so-called "old school tie network" and "jobs for the boys" no longer applies. Adapting to a new career invariably comes with a sharp reduction in earnings.

The more a player earned, the more his salary dropped. For example, of the players earning over €200,000 annually, 100 per cent were earning less than €65,000 for the next two years. Half of those were earning less than €30,000. Even 40 per cent of those earning between €100,000-150,000 were earning less than €65,000 for the next two years.

When asked what in particular stood out for the players when making the transition from retirement, the key factor was more pension and taxation advice, along with an element of psychological and emotional support.

"The Australians have had a player services programme for eight years, and even in the UK they are four years ahead of us. But we're getting there," says Woods. About 60 players are now working with Adams, who is also working with some retired players.

"One guy hasn't got a job. He's quite heavily qualified, but after 10 years as a pro, it makes absolutely no difference. It's a bad time to be looking for a job," says Woods.

Most players operate on two-year deals, giving them little in the way of job security.

"What's more, while players have time on their hands on a given day or two every week, it's well nigh impossible for them to, say, take six-week blocks for refresher courses in any qualifications they may have.

"There isn't really a tradition in Ireland of what's called slow-track studies. It's usually a three or four-year degree. Whereas in Australia you can do that over six or seven years if you want."

For example, there are some players who would like to teach, but that requires work placements, which Woods says "is very difficult to get around". By contrast, one player is interested in doing social work when he retires, and as part of his link with a charity for disadvantaged children is placed there half a day per week. This, helpfully, also provides an alternative interest and mental break from all things rugby.

Ian McGeechan recently told Woods that every five weeks the Wasps players are given three days off, primarily to recharge them physically and mentally, and they also try and finish by 2.30 each day to encourage them to develop outside interests with a view to improving their performances on the pitch.

Woods also cites a study in South Africa which showed that amongst the Blue Bulls squad which won the Super 14 last year, eight out of 10 had a business interest outside rugby. "Some guys just don't know how to do it. That's why Hamish is there," says Woods.

He says players should avail of Adams and IRUPA's player advisory service "straight away".

Aside from the pragmatics of retirement, Woods refers to the hero to zero effect. Some of the players' quotes from the survey underline his point.

"It's tough, emotionally and practically to move away from the scene, the buzz, the lifestyle and the good salary. Short term, retirement is tough on many fronts and far tougher than I imagined," said one player.

One quote, in particularly, stood out: "I could not look at a game of rugby for five years after I retired."