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Bradford's Ben Jeffries quits full-time rugby for mining
Stand-off Ben Jeffries will retire from full-time rugby league at the end of Bradford Bulls' 2012 campaign to work in mining in his native Australia.
The 32-year-old will combine the job with regional rugby in New South Wales at the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs, once the Bulls' season is complete.
"Coal mining is a massive industry in Australia," Jeffries said.
"People are queuing up to get into that line of work so I'm grateful to have landed this job."
Mick Potter Bradford Bulls head coach“I would like to thank him for what he has done for the club and wish him and his family every success in the future”
He added: "It's a no-brainer really. I don't know what my exact role will be just yet but I'll be working in the mining industry.
"I know that when I get there I can diversify into certain categories of mining. I can be open-cut or underground."
Retirement ends a 10-year association with Super League in spells with Bradford and Wakefield totalling 236 league appearances.
"I've loved playing for Wakefield and Bradford," Jeffries continued.
"But starting a nine-to-five job and living in a country I've not lived in for 10 years represents a new challenge for me now."
Jeffries, who played for St George Illawarra and Wests Tigers in the NRL before joining Wakefield in 2002, is the second player to confirm their exit, along with South Sydney-bound Tom Burgess.
The Bulls, who are yet to find out whether the recent takeover of the club by Omar Khan and Gerry Sutcliffe has been ratified by the Rugby Football League, have 17 players out of contract this winter.
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Comment number 16.
Bronco31147th September 2012 - 9:00
@derwaldmann It is very very good money! RL players aren't Footballers, the pay celling is actually pretty low and contract lengths pretty short. If you're career takes a dip you're scratching a living or effectively a semi professional. Mining is a VERY lucrative industry and more so a long term career.
Fair play, he'll still be playing rugby at some level and have security for his family
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Comment number 15.
ThreeFingeredPete6th September 2012 - 20:18
Bradford weren't good enough for 'im!
Oh, no!
He had t' go swanin' off t' up-state New South Wales wi' 'is coal-minin' friends!
What the bloody 'ell's a tungsten carbide drill?
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Comment number 14.
GrampaGrumpy6th September 2012 - 9:43
Used to be said when your team was short of players, shout down the nearest pit and you'd have a dozen ready replacements. Now this lad's going the other way, how times change.
@9 It wasn't Thatch that closed our pits, I did. Haven't bought a bag of coal since 1990.
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Comment number 13.
Richard Salisbury6th September 2012 - 9:18
I see Olivier Elima is the next to leave the Bulls - back to the Dragons in Perpignan for two years.
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Comment number 12.
Swing Lowe5th September 2012 - 21:11
Working in the mining industry myself, I can recommend the industry to any rugby player.
Always exciting and great team spirit, get on board!
(However I did play Union)
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Comments 5 of 16