Robbie Paul – now there is a player who has spent the last few years preparing for life after playing.

But for every Robbie Paul there’s a Scott Naylor.

So whose job is it to ensure that players are prepared for the after-life?

Is it the team that brought them through the ranks or is it the team that they end their playing days with?

Or is it just plain and simply down to the player themselves?

similar to that of other careers, the employer has responsibility for both interested parties to provide opportunities for CPD, ultimately the employee must show willing and self motivation though.

I don’t think you can really compare the career of a pro rugby player to that of, say an accountant.

CPD’s/PDP’s are all well and good if you are expecting a return on your investment. From a business point of view why would any team want to invest in a players post playing career, especially when it would be unlikely that said player would end up working for them?

Once an accountant reaches 30+ the company they work for is unlikely to ‘let him go’ because they’re past it. Professional rugby players rely entirely on their physical attributes to maintain their careers – something that most of us don’t even consider.

IMO players should be counselled by each club they play for, informing them that at some point they will have to consider not playing rugby.

Do players really need to be nannied in that way?

After all, it can't come as a shock to them that at some point they will have to consider not playing rugby. You don't see many 65 year olds knocking about Super League (Stanley Gene excepted).

Or what about, assuming they have one (and most do these days), the player's agent ?

Isn't that the sort of thing that former Leeds winger Paul Sterling was trying to do ?

The other thing is, with the nature of the physical contact in the game, a player's career could end the very next time they step on to a field ...

As McF often says “big daft lads” – some of them (without being too disrespectful) aren’t the sharpest tools in the box and I think that it should be spelt out for them that their careers may not only end in a few years but they may not be playing in a week’s time.

The club has a duty to ensure that each player is aware that they need something in place sooner rather than later, IMO of course.

I really have no idea about Sterling – what was he trying to do?

You make a good point but I’ve always seen player agents a bit paid mercenaries who’ll drop a player as soon there’s no more cash to be squeezed out of them.

Sell them insurance?
Seriously there is also the Players Union - part of the GMB - in which Burrow's dad (Geoff is it?) is involved, following on from Andy Goodway.
They try to help with planning for a career after retirement.
I think that is something that the RFL are also involved in.
Players can & do get involved with their local teams, something to be encouraged IMV, but I guess not all players are suited or suitable for that.
Another issue is the demise of the local pub or post office, something that a host of ex-players used to take up at the end of their playing careers.

This still means 3rd party intervention – I believe the club should be responsible for some post playing career advice.

Although any advice from whatever source is better than nothing.

There are still plenty of pub leases for sale, in fact there are probably more than ever for sale - problem is that a licensee has to work hard and be a bit inventive with a pub these days rather than just polish glasses and rely on a procession of old alcoholics to come in every day.

that's not been my experience of CPD, my employers have been honour bound to further my development for my long term future. whilst they did gain in the short term my contracts are initially only up to 3 years so returns through my working life are unlikely.

Given the conditions imposed by some pubcos on licensees you'd have to be a lunatic to get into that trade lightly.