Sevens international on his future Time to try out scrumthing new
Scotland Sevens star James Fleming is eyeing-up life after pro rugby.
The one-time Perth High School pupil and Perthshire RFC back has forged a globe-trotting career on the international sevens scene, with 101 tries to his name and counting.
But Fleming has seen teammates in the sevens and full XV game reach the end of the line, with age or injury intervening, and he’s already looking to the future.
“Representing my country on the world stage has been an absolute privilege and the world of professional sport has taught me a huge amount,” he said.
“There are still a few years left in these legs but the reality is this dream job won’t last forever. So once you’ve had your dream job, what’s next? What can possibly compare?
“It’s a scary thought, and a question many players struggle to find an answer to. I have witnessed many good friends being forced to retire through injury or ‘old age’ and facing this challenge head on. Many still haven’t found their next career.
“As rugby continues to grow in the professional era I have found myself asking the question, is enough being done to plan for the inevitable? I am definitely not alone in having seen friends and teammates have their careers cut short and really struggle.”
Fleet-footed Fleming (29) joins the Scotland squad today en route to HSBC Sevens World Series legs in Hong Kong, with April 7-9 group games looming against Argentina, USA and Russia, before moving on to Singapore.
With an Olympic campaign to his name and a Scotland rugby legend Gavin Hastings Commonwealth Games on his radar, pro Sevens rugby still warrants top billing. But after following up a University of Stirling degree with a two year MBA course at Edinburgh Business School, Fleming has joined the team at Perthbased Carbon Financial Partners. And he revealed it was former Scotland and British and Irish Lions captain Gavin Hastings who pointed him in the right direction. “We’ve all been there, in the back garden, scoring the winning goal in a World Cup final or kicking the winning penalty in the Six Nations. As a six-yearold growing up in Craigie I would be Gavin chipping the washing line before sliding into the flower bed grounding the ball like Tony Stanger. “For the last seven years I have been lucky enough to have my dream job. So it was pretty surreal when I found myself discussing what follows on from rugby with Gavin,
Perth’s James Fleming 20-odd years after pretending to be him in the back garden!
“I saw retirement from sport as a big stage in my life and something I should plan for. He encouraged me to recognise the skills I had learned through sport and how these could be applied in a business context.
“At the time I only held a Sport Studies degree so my business knowledge was very limited.
“It is well-documented that a professional sportsperson has many skills learned through sport which can be applied in business. However the missing link seems to be the understanding of these skills and how they can be taken from the sporting context and applied within a business environment, something that is alien to many sportspeople.
“I enrolled in the MBA course and it helped me understand these transferable skills and where they might fit into business.
“I have been particularly interested in comparisons between business and sport, but also areas where each can learn from the other.”
Carbon’s managing director Gordon Wilson, from Scone, offered Fleming the chance to join the team as a graduate trainee, working in tandem with his rugby commitments.
“In contrast to the familiar environment of the gym and training pitch, one day a week in an office was a daunting prospect,” he admitted.
“But I was excited by the challenge and there is a real comparison to the sports team dynamic.
“In the Sevens squad we pride ourselves on having a culture which promotes a ‘growth mindset,’ developing ourselves to be the best we can be, and providing an environment with opportunities for everyone to improve.
“This is an area where clear comparisons can be made with Carbon. There is a genuine enthusiasm to help each other improve.
“It has opened my eyes to what life might look like after rugby and allowed me to take the small steps in preparing for retirement from sport.”
I’ve witnessed many friends forced to retire through injury