Butcher Plans for Life After Football

By Makayla Muscat

Since making his NRL debut with the Roosters in 2016, Nat Butcher has consistently engaged in education programs, balancing study with playing full time Rugby League.

Mitchell Aubsson, Luke Keary, and Nat Butcher. Picture: Zimbio

Now 23, the Roosters lock was part of the Premiership-winning team in 2019, and while he could take time out to enjoy the lifestyle of a professional athlete, Butcher set out a contingency plan for life after football.

After studying a Certificate IV and Diploma of Business at EABS (Elite Athlete Business School) with some other players in the squad, he says he was eager to continue with his studies. 

“I thought I’d further my study, so I started doing a Bachelor of Business Administration last year and I was really enjoying that, he explained.

“I wanted to venture into commerce. I thought some of the subjects were more suited to me and what I wanted to do, so I ended up switching to that this year.

Butcher - always looking towards the future - is currently studying a Bachelor of Commerce at ACU (Australian Catholic University) and hopes other players will also have a back-up plan.

“You’ve really got to have a plan for what you want to do post footy, he said.

“I’m still not 100% sure what that is for me yet, but I have a plan to venture into something eventually.

“It’s important while you’ve got the opportunity to do that. You get great support from the NRL and the Club, they really help you get through the subjects.

“It can be an escape from footy sometimes which is good because footy can get pretty full on, but you’ve got to be smart with it”

Butcher says that football is the priority, but it is necessary to balance work and study. He also emphasises the importance of having a well-organised schedule and study routine.   

“You’ve got to know when to focus on what, he said,

“It took me a couple of years to get there but now I feel like I’ve got a pretty good plan, I know my study routine and how to balance that with footy.

“Footy doesn’t last forever and you have to have a back-up plan, so players are constantly utilising those resources.”

“The support from the NRL is growing as well and as long as that keeps growing then you’ll see players put their hand up more to do extra-curricular work and find out what they want to do.