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58 E L EC TR I C AL CONNEC T I ON
SUMME R 20 1 6
G
rowing up on the Gold Coast,
I’m somewhat of a rugby league
tragic (by which I mean that
despite playing the game for many years
as a kid, my game is a tragedy).
Even though I only ever scored one
try and was awkwardly taller than
everyone else on the field, I still thought
that one day might be able to play
alongside Dale Shearer and the rest of
the Gold Coast Seagulls.
But reality ultimately came calling and
in the same year that the Seagulls pulled
the plug (1995), I too put an end to my
fledgling career at the seasoned age of 11
(I still think 12 would have been the age
when everything just clicked, but it was
not to be).
I understand what it’s like to have a
singular focus on playing a game at which
so few people will ever be successful.
Luckily, I found journalism but so many
other players who stick with the game
far longer than I did will not adequately
prepare for life after the game.
John Hutchinson is out to change that.
John is currently the education,
training and employment manager for
the National Rugby League (NRL) and has
been working in player development since
2000. Recently, he has spearheaded the
Australian Apprenticeship Ambassador
program, which aims to promote
apprenticeships to players as well as the
wider community.
“So many of the guys playing in the
NRL aren’t going to have a very long
career. In the junior grades, most won’t
have a career at all. So it’s important
that players understand this and plan
for life off the field,” John says.
“The average playing career is
about three to four years. So for us,
it’s important that the guys have
something else going on in their life
other than just footy.
“Even if you’re lucky enough to become
a ‘marquee player’ who has a career for
10 years, that’s not very long. 10 years
is nothing. There’s a lot of living beyond
those 10 years.
“There’s a perception out there that
footballers have got too much time and
too much money. But when you scratch
the surface, nothing could be further
from the truth.
“The average salary isn’t enough to
retire on.”
Currently, about 25% of players are
completing an apprenticeship. A further
25% go to university.
“We would love this number to grow
because of the natural fit between league
and the trades, but the demands of the
sport at the elite level make it quite hard.
They need a really sympathetic employer
if they’re going to be successful.”
Interestingly, being an electrician is one
of the most popular trades among players.
“The three biggest trades among
players are plumbing, electrical and
carpentry. When I asked players why
these three were so popular, they told
me it was because they would never be
out of work.
“Players tend to be very pragmatic
and very practical. They like things in
black and white and they like learning by
doing. That’s why these trades are
a perfect fit.
“We’re very much a blue-collar sport.
Our guys come from working class
Parramatta Eel and apprenticeship ambassador David Gower is a qualified electrician.
TRADING IN SPORT FOR LIFE
APPRENTICE CORNER