HIGH- POWERED FORUM GIVES

POST- RUGBY CAREERS BOOST

It brought together some of the biggest names in rugby with some of the biggest names in business. Together with Deloitte - one of the world’s largest professional services network - the inaugural NZRPA Business Networking Innovation Cafe was recently held in Auckland, giving a super- sized boost to a programme helping post- rugby careers. Former Waikato wing Doug Wilson, now a partner with Deloitte Private Hamilton, was the head facilitator and Deloitte also provided the venue, attracting 19 All Blacks and a range of top male and female players, past and present. “After 15 years of professionalism, we’ve got a growing number of players within the game looking for future career and business opportunities,” NZRPA player services manager David Gibson explained. “We want to build a focused network which supports players - both past and present - as they look for meaningful connections, careers and business opportunities during and after their playing days.” The aim of the event was to develop a clear set of principles, as well as a structure under which the network will be developed. After an introduction from former New Zealand Maori player Glen Marsh, who talked about having a clear plan for life after rugby and the invaluable lesson of being prepared - the forum broke into groups. The players and business leaders were asked two key questions - what critical items will make the network successful and beneficial for all involved; and what the structure of the business network programme will look like. Trust featured largely in answers to the first question, as did the need for players to be engaged, motivated and with a good understanding of what is available to them and their own skills. The structure is likely to be NZRPA- driven, utilising the existing PDM network but with more resourcing, which Wilson thought was completely appropriate. “The NZRPA really supports past and present professional players as they seek to build meaningful connections during and beyond their playing days and the team at Deloitte were really happy to be a part of it,” he said. The NZRPA team is now processing key outcomes and feedback from the evening, so they can put together a sustainable program that will be of key benefit to the players.