When Kyle Eastmond was signed by the Leeds Rhinos in March this year, a few eyebrows were raised.
Eastmond began his league career with St Helens in 2007 and enjoyed a successful number of years with the Red Vee before switching codes to join Bath in October 2011.
After nine years of playing rugby union with Bath, Wasps and Leicester, the diminutive playmaker returned to the sport where he began his long career back in 2021.
However, he made just two appearances for Leeds before deciding to retire.
And now he has spoken about his career for the first time since that moment, slamming what he called ‘an institution’ of rugby.
“I’m a little bit nervous,” Eastmond told the Daily Mail.
“I probably went through my whole career without my coaches ever actually getting to know me.
“Sport moves quick. You’re constantly thinking about the next training session, the next game, the next contract.
“It’s cutthroat. If you’ve dropped a ball, you’re s**t. If you’ve scored a great try, you’re brilliant. No one stops and takes the time out to dig a little deeper.”
He added: “I miss having those conversations about the game, which maybe is the reason I’m here, but I don’t miss the life of a professional athlete. It’s not as easy as people make out, because you’re never really you.
“Listen, I’m not going to sit here and throw stones at the sport I love. That’s not me. Rugby is a brilliant game.
“It has been great to me and I love it, but you reach a certain stage in life when you’re no longer prepared to compromise on your principles.
“Rugby’s a game but it’s also a business and an institution. I didn’t want to ‘play the game’ any more and not stand up for what I believe in.
“You’re basically owned as a rugby player — an asset — and that’s not how I wanted to live my life. Turning a blind eye on things. Good luck to the guys who can do that but you have the choice.
Eastmond also revealed that a desire to avoid any further injuries proved key in his decision.
“Why do you have to wait until the wheels fall off before you retire? Why do you have to wait until you can’t walk?
“I don’t want my son watching me be owned by an institution. That’s not the idol I want him to have. Everybody has moved on, though. Everybody has moved on and is doing better. Do you get me?”
James
December 22, 2021 at 4:34 pm
Oh dear! What an odd thing to quote and publish/