Leeds Rhinos’ Adam Cuthbertson aims to clean up with new business

The 35-year-old Australian, who is in the final year of his contract, won’t lack options when he eventually hangs up his boots.

He is studying for a masters in sports directorship at the University of Salford, won four trophies during two years in charge of Rhinos’ women’s side before stepping down in the off-season and is assistant-coach with England women.

Now, in a radical departure from his day job, Cuthbertson has also set up his own business, El Naturals Skincare Limited.

“I like to be quite clean and I always used to buy quite a bit of it and shop for it quite extensively,” said Cuthbertson of his interest in skin care products.

“It got to a point where I thought I wouldn’t mind figuring how to make it myself.”

Cuthbertson’s Rhinos teammates were guinea pigs in the early days of his new venture.

He recalled: “I started making it at home, making up batches of it and sharing it with the lads.

“They all liked it and I came up with some really good products, so I thought it could become a business and that’s where it all evolved from.

“We produce products such as face masks, moisturisers, cleansers, body lotions and facial serums, which are all manufactured here in the UK.

“It is all locally sourced and I am trying to make it as eco-friendly as possible.”

The industry is licensed, so Cuthbertson devises formulas and then forwards them to manufacturers who produce the goods.

He added: “I have been dabbling with a lot of different formulas.

“Me and my girlfriend have been trying to come up with a lot of different ideas.

“The product we are trying to produce is unisex, something couples can use.

“We are living in a very metrosexual age, where men and women tend to shop for very similar skincare products and I am trying to put some formulas together that appeal to both male and female, to make a unisex brand.”

Operating online, Cuthbertson is confident his business will survive the current coronavirus crisis.

“There’s a lot of uncertainty at the moment and people are reluctant to go out and spend money,” he admitted.

“But I have got an online shop – www.elnaturals.uk – and that makes my life a bit easier in terms of business. I think if I had an actual shop it would be in trouble at the minute, but it’s fortunate I haven’t got that.”