Exclusive: Why James Clare left Castleford Tigers as he takes on new challenge away from rugby league

James Clare left Castleford Tigers at the end of 2022 but not because they didn’t offer him a new deal.

The former Leigh Centurions and Bradford Bulls winger revealed to Serious About Rugby League that there was an offer to stay at Castleford but he wanted to explore his option and has also taken on a new job outside of rugby league.

Clare has taken on a job in school which is something he has always wanted to do.

However, his rugby league career isn’t over just yet and he expects to be playing somewhere in 2023 but as to where remains unclear.

Clare has had a terrific career.

In 2014 he helped lead to Tigers to the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley where they met Leeds Rhinos just two years after his debut.

In 2015, he joined Bradford Bulls where he scored 21 tries in 30 games prior to a move to Leigh Centurions in 2017 during their time in Super League scoring six tries in five games.

After that he returned to the Tigers after they’d just played in the Grand Final.

After five seasons back at the Jungle he is now headed to pastures new but the 31-year-old has already begun putting himself into a strong position off the field with his new career in education.