From Rugby to Finance: How Do You Even Begin That Career Transition

When did you last start from scratch?

Not just in your job, but in how you see yourself.

If you’re anything like the athletes I’ve worked with (or even some execs I’ve coached), the scariest part isn’t change itself.

It’s losing the clarity you once had. The structure. The rhythm. The feeling of knowing what you're good at and how you contribute.

That’s why I wanted to share Tom Morton’s story with you. Because his journey from professional rugby to a career in finance and sports consulting is one so many of us can relate to. Nope, not in the job titles, but in the career transition.

What Happens When Your Career Transition Hits Without A Warning?

Tom’s story took a turn he didn’t expect. He’d just finished a season playing out in New Zealand, still contracted to his UK club. Then he woke up to a text message from his partner:

"Have you seen it?"

A tweet had been posted announcing player exits. His name was on the list. That was how he found out his contract wasn’t being renewed.

No call. No meeting. Just a tweet.

The next few days were a blur, but one thing stuck with him. He said:

“Everything I do now, I ask myself, how do I make sure no one I work with ever feels like that?”

That’s the kind of wake-up call no one prepares for.

How Do You Start Over Without a Plan

Tom never went to uni. His whole world had been rugby. So when that door closed, he could have chased a quick contract or clung to what he knew.

Instead, he did something most people avoid: he slowed down.

He moved back home. Got back to basics. And started having coffees with anyone who’d say yes.

"Networking is playing the long game," he told me.

Eventually, one of those chats turned into an opportunity: a training program with KPMG. It wasn’t glamorous, and it didn’t pay much. But it gave him structure, learning, and most importantly, a base to build from.

He didn’t fall in love with accounting. But he stuck with it to keep learning.

What Parts of Your Sporting Life Should You Bring With You?

One thing Tom said intrigued me:

"Just because you walk into a new industry doesn’t mean you leave your strengths behind."

Too many athletes, too many high performers in general, think they have to "become" something else. But the truth is, what made you good on the pitch, the discipline, the work rate, the feedback loops is exactly what will serve you off it.

Tom shared how strange it was to sit in a study group with 18-year-olds just out of college. He was 25, used to performing under pressure, and thinking, "Let’s just get this done."

He felt like a fish out of water. But instead of changing who he was, he adapted how he showed up.

How Do You Redefine Success Without Losing Yourself?

Tom talked about identity. About how so much of our self-worth gets wrapped up in the title or the team or the contract.

But when that’s gone?

He didn’t reinvent himself. He remembered who he was underneath the sport. And he carried that forward.

He didn’t need to act like a corporate consultant. He just needed to show up with the same mindset that got him through those early-morning trainings.

That’s how he found his way back to sport not as a player, but as an advisor, helping clubs make smarter decisions, blending business strategy with an athlete’s lens.

So What Can You Do If You’re In the Middle of a Transition?

Here are three things I’d say to anyone going through it right now:

1. Map Your Strengths, Not Your Job Titles

   Make a list of what you're actually good at the stuff people trusted you for, asked your advice on, leaned on you to deliver. That’s your foundation.

2. Reach Out Before You're Ready

   Don’t wait until you have the perfect pitch or plan. Start the coffee chats now. Like Tom said, networking isn’t a one-time thing. It’s a habit.

3. Keep a Bit of Your Old Rhythm

   Whether it’s a training session, journaling, or a regular walk, keep one habit from your old life that helps you feel grounded. You’re not throwing everything out. You’re building on it.

What’s Your 2ndwind Going to Look Like?

Tom didn’t have a five-year plan when rugby ended. But he knew who he didn’t want to be. And that clarity helped him figure out the next step.

He’s now working at the intersection of sports and business. Advising clubs. Mentoring young athletes. Still showing up as himself.

So here’s the question for you:

What are you bringing with you into your next chapter?

If you want to explore that further, check out the full episode with Tom Morton on the Career Clarity Podcast. And if you’re navigating your own transition, we’ve got free resources, mentoring options, and other episodes that can help.

Let’s figure it out together.