Wakefield Trinity forward Matty Ashurst planning for life after rugby

The industrious second-row is one of Super League’s most consistent forwards being a mainstay for the West Yorkshire club since joining from Salford Red Devils.

He earned Dream Team status along with Trinity team-mates Tom Johnstone and Bill Tupou in 2018 and will begin his seventh campaign with them when they start against Leeds Rhinos at Emerald Headingley on Saturday.

However, Ashurst has a side-line as England winger Tom Johnstone revealed when Tweeting about gaining some life and critical illness cover from his team-mate last month.

Ashurst, 31, explained to The Yorkshire Post: “I had a mate who did it, advising on life insurance and personal protection, and I got interested just talking to him.

“Then in the first lockdown, about a year ago, I decided to start doing some training and courses myself; I had more time on my hands as we weren’t playing or training.

“I qualified at the end of summer, around September, so I’ve been doing it part-time ever since then and it’s going alright. It’s something different.”

So does the ex-St Helens forward arrive at training with a briefcase in hand ready to give the hard sell to his team-mates?

Ashurst said: “It’s an open service so it doesn’t cost them anything. And I’m not going around them all saying ‘let me sell you some insurance!’

“But if anyone asks and they need some help, or they are moving house, I’m happy to help them sort it. You always get a bit of banter from the lads asking what I’m trying to sell them next but everyone’s been good.

“A couple of the lads have actually enquired about it and Tom’s used it so it’s good.”

Many players used the time-off during Covid last year to learn new skills and Ashurst hopes to make financial advising a career once his playing days finish.

“Hopefully that’s what will happen,” he said.

“I’m just trying to get a feel for it. I’m just doing personal protection at the minute but I think I am going to go on and do mortgage qualifications and hopefully go on to pensions, investments and full financial advising in the long run.

“If I can get a few people on board now, build a client base and let them know what I’m doing, by the time I do want to retire in a few years, it does make that transition a bit smoother.”

That said, he still has unfinished business with Trinity who are looking to make up for a disappointing 2020.

He said: “This is the last year of my contract here but I’m hoping to stay. I’ve been at Wakey a long time now. It’s been seven years but it seems to have flown by.

“I’m happy at Wakey and have played some consistent rugby for them so hopefully that (new deal) will look after itself in the near future.

“As a side, we weren’t happy with last year. It was a strange time with Covid. I don’t think we had the same team on the field one week to the next. But we’ve been building for this season and everyone is ready to start again.”

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