Bradford's Ben Jeffries quits full-time rugby for mining

Last updated on .From the section Rugby Leaguecomments16

Ben Jeffries

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."

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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16 comments

  • 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)

  • Working in a mine or playing for Bradford Bulls.........er its a no brainer really! You couldnt make that line up.

  • @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

  • 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?

  • 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.

  • I see Olivier Elima is the next to leave the Bulls - back to the Dragons in Perpignan for two years.

  • Crikey, the money must be pretty good down the Australian mines then!

  • Shame I'm not younger - could go to Oz and earn a fortune. I'm the first male in my family on my Dad's side to never have been a miner for about 300 years. (Thatch closed 'em).

  • @dukdiktoo What exactly is not factual or accurate within the article? It merely says Jeffries is ending his full-time career for a job in mining, and the only reference to what his new role may entail comes from the player himself.

  • I have just come back from Australia and the mining industry is absolutely booming out there. The miners are earning a hell of a lot of money and get well treated by the mining companies. My Australian cousin is a miner out near Perth and absolutely raves about it. He is on over $100,000 a year and just drives diggers about all day. There is an awful lot of money to be made if you can get it!

  • I very much doubt the new job would be down the pit mining, given the money he is talking about. It would be more like an operational type job

  • Should be home to home after playing at two pits!!

  • I just checked my calendar, it's definitely not April 1st. Someone get this man some help!

  • Oh dear.

    Mining is one of the worst jobs in the world; dunno why this guy is putting positive spin on it.

    What a shame someone who can play a professional sport is reduced to such a pitiful existance.

  • @Matt

    Wow a reply! Did I touch a nerve?

    The thing is the link we all clicked that led us to the article was worded:

    "Bulls star quits sport to become miner"

    So (presumably your) article is fine, but didn't meet the expectations given us by the sub editor.

  • @6

    Yes but the BBC wouldn't want to do factual, accurate, honest reporting (or whatever it says in its charter) would it?

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