Life after sport for Rugby 7s player Ed Jenkins: ‘I miss playing in front of huge crowds’
Former Rugby 7s player Ed Jenkins talks about life after sport and what he misses about being a professional athlete.
Confidential
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Life after professional rugby is taking some getting used to for former Rugby 7s player Ed Jenkins.
But with a three-year old daughter, Indiana, and another child on the way in seven weeks, he’s had his hands full. That’s on top of starting a post-sport career in commercial property.
“I do miss rugby,” said Jenkins, who was forced to retire from rugby last year because of a shoulder injury. “I miss the travel, the camaraderie, playing in front of huge crowds. But being able to get up out of bed every morning and the body is not aching, that is a big plus. And no more serious injuries to worry about.”
Jenkins, 33, keeps himself fit post rugby and will take part in the Blackmores Sydney Running Festival on September 15.
He’s banking on doing the 22km half marathon in under two hours and thinks it will be more of a mental challenge than a physical one.
“My training regimen has changed dramatically,” he explained. “More often than not I am sat at a desk rather than out on the field and in the gym.”
Jenkins runs to and from work daily, covering three to six kilometres.
“When you are used to logging up 10 to 15km a session it gets pretty bad when you are only doing 3km a day,” he said.
“I will always find time for physical activity in one way or another. For your body, first and foremost, it is vital to be active, and then also for my mental state, it is very important to do something to keep your body and mind active.”
