Maule’s loving life now he’s mentor
ALEX BYWATER talks to centre-turned-agent Gareth Maule about life on the other side
AFTER a decade in the professional game, Gareth Maule hopes the experience he’s gathered over the course of his career can help him benefit the next generation of players.
The former Scarlets, Dragons and Bristol centre ended his playing career on his own terms at Ashton Gate, in December 2016 – a year before he turned 30.
Now he works with some of the most established names in world rugby and a wealth of exciting young talent after landing a role with leading rugby management company Esportif.
On retirement, many former players struggle to find what’s next but Maule was not one of them.
“I remember the day now. It was around Christmas a few years back, I got out of bed and realised I didn’t want to go to work. It was the sign I needed to do something else,” Maule told The Rugby Paper.
“I was fortunate to have had advice on when to retire from a few individuals, one a World Cup winner, and within three weeks of waking up that morning, I’d retired and was already embarking on the next chapter in my career.
“After talking with Esportif, I realised how much the rugby management industry had moved on, it was something I wanted to be a part of.”
Maule points out how fortunate he is to have found a job he enjoys so quickly after finishing on the field and admits the well documented post-retirement struggles of former players remain a real concern. So, how has he put his playing experiences to good use?
“My day-to-day role involves managing British & Irish Lions and internationals, but what’s just as important for me is my role with the next generation and passing on what I’ve learned myself,” Maule said.
“I was in the first crop of players to come through the academy system, I was released from my home region, and I then went on to play in Wales and England.
“When I recruit a young client, I can speak to them about anything because there’s nothing they will experience I can’t relate to or won’t have been through myself.
“I want to help young players and the fact I haven’t been retired that long means I know and understand the modern game. That’s massively important.
“I’ve seen a diverse range of individuals involved in player management, some with very questionable skill sets and my biggest frustration is the lack of knowledge about what being an agent involves. Hopefully I can help players to understand that more clearly.”
Maule represents his former Scarlets team-mates and Wales stars Jonathan and Gareth Davies and Esportif boast world stars Alun Wyn Jones, Aaron Cruden and Charles Piatau among their client base. He also spent part of June at the World Rugby U20 Championship, casting his eye over the up and coming talent from around the globe. Wales young guns Taine Basham and Jared Rosser also come under Maule’s representation. “The majority of my client base is in England and Wales and both systems are producing more and more quality players which is exciting,” Maule said. “It’s very different now to when I played and I think the clubs are in a better place than ever in terms of player production. More and more players are being relied on to play senior rugby from a young age due to rising salaries of our international players and it’s my job to ensure all their off-field affairs are aligned so they’re in a good place to achieve their full potential. “It’s a job I really enjoy and the most important thing for me is acting in the best interests of the player and making a difference to their careers.”