Scrum v has gone awful

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 Gate12 wrote:

 Wil Chips wrote:

 Gate12 wrote:

Glad this thread has taken a different direction as I haven't watched scrum v for a long time.
The second career, post career or back up plan for players is a tricky one and there's clearly not a one size fits all solution.

There's a lot of parties involved in professional development including the employer (club), governing body (WRU), employees representative (agent), union (WRPA) and employee (player) and the main thing really is a good understanding between all parties who's responsible for which bits.

One of things I'm not a huge fan of is youngsters being driven too much in the direction of college and uni. It's great for those that want to continue education in that format but there's plenty of other options out there and they shouldn't feel like they've got to go to college or uni if they want their rugby career to progress which may ultimately harm their careers outside of rugby.

Doing an apprenticeship or working in a family company shouldn't reduce youngsters chances of making it, also we haven't got the player pool to potentially miss out on that talent.

Absolutely aligned that academic pursuits are not for everyone. 
The truth is that most players who come through the standard development pathway are laser focussed on being rugby players, most have never thought or contemplated an alternative or secondary pursuit, until or unless they face up to life post rugby. That’s where I think the club, as the most influential stakeholder, can do more. 

Linkage to local companies, club sponsors for example, can offer that secondary skill set. There’s a stack of vocational training programs available, and of course the club can host a monthly financial planning clinic, where players can get solid professional advice around all sorts of fiscal planning. 

The entities you mention in your first paragraph all have a mandate in this space I guess, but none are absolutely charged to address that aspect of player welfare and long term planning.

As well as local companies and club sponsors there's also the potential avenue of the club itself which would have a host of side benefits. There are challenges recruiting in a lot of areas with rugby clubs like physiotherapists, strength and conditioning, sales and marketing, accounts, events, web design etc. that players could begin getting engaged in and are transferrable skills to other industries either during a rugby career or post it.

I'd imagine you'd get a better player out of it too with greater engagement, understanding and interest in the club and it may also help with retention as a player and subsequently as a general employee.Well said!