Tim Cadwallader

What made you start the BCITO Sport theory package while still playing rugby?

I thought it was a good way to start the process of the next chapter of my life/career, and get some insight into the industry. It took me a long time to find something I was passionate about career wise. I had completed a Bachelor of Sport and Exercise whilst playing also. But I had no real passion/drive to pursue that career path and missed a few key opportunities in the sport industry due to focusing more on my playing career. 

How did juggling rugby and the BCITO theory work help set you up for your building apprenticeship? & Were there any skills from rugby that transferred surprisingly well into the construction world?

I was helped hugely by the Covid 19 Pandemic/lockdowns and isolations. I smashed out the majority of the enterprise package whilst either in isolation or lockdowns. I was fortunate to have access to my resources during this time. Covid also brought forward my return to NZ and retirement. I started and completed the enterprise packaged and then started my apprenticeship all within with first 5 months of 2020 which was a crazy period of time for everyone. 

Not so much technical skills transferred into my apprenticeship, but certainly physical and mental skills were really easy and enjoyable to transfer. Usually as a player your fully committed to rugby, it was really easy with not having a break from rugby to starting my apprenticeship to also fully commit to my apprenticeship going cold turkey on rugby. I think it really helped bringing a high level of professionalism to the apprenticeship, little things like showing up early, having meals prepped, being organised throughout my day, taking notes during meetings, keeping workspaces tidy, and then just doing a little bit extra homework in my own time. Also being confident speaking to stakeholders and networking was really important in the residential construction industry. It really put me ahead of the more typical fresh out of school apprentice. 

What did a typical day look like when you were balancing pro rugby and study?

When studying the enterprise package I was training typically 2 field sessions and 1 gym session per day tapering towards game day. I was somewhat lucky that I was living in an apartment with another kiwi and had left my partner back home in NZ so in my downtime the easy distraction was to open the books. I’d typically get up early and put 1hr in before heading off to training 2 or 3 times a week. Got it out of the way. The work wasn’t overly difficult and the answers were in the books it was just a matter or reading them finding the information and answering the questions on the worksheets. 

Looking back, what was the toughest part about preparing for your post-rugby career while still on the field?

Probably finding the career that you want whilst being committed to something else. There’s not much opportunity to try things out. And when you retire from footy and have to start again, I didn’t want to have to start again too many times before I found my next career to commit too. I filled my time around NPC studying or working on a farm as they were flexible around my training schedules out of season. There wasn’t much opportunity to have a meaningful career outside of NPC footy especially if you were playing club rugby trying to get another contract. 

Did getting into construction give you a mental break from the intensity of rugby — or was it just a new kind of challenge?

Definitely got a break, I was never a great footy player so was almost always playing for another contract. The job security of an apprenticeship and having a career path in front was super settling. 

How did your sports background help you stand out or succeed in the building industry?

Physical fitness certainly was a great start and having a higher level of professionalism to my home life compared to colleagues certainly set me apart. 

What kept you motivated to push through both training and theory work, especially when things got hectic?

Very situational to Covid. Covid created the instability for me to hang up my boots and also gave me 9ish weeks to prepare for my next step. MLR2020 season was cancelled in March. Didn’t have to be back until November 2020. Managed to find a job during lockdown and start immediately after lockdown ended. Formally retired approximately August 2020 once I had full time permanent employment. 

Now that you’ve transitioned into full-time building, how has that shift felt? Anything you miss from the rugby side?

I think building and day to day footy life is fairly similar. It’s a physical enough job and presents some mental challenges. But it also gives a team environment and culture. The things I miss about rugby are two big things. 1. In footy everyone is disciplined in their diets and it creates an easy environment to follow suit. Not so much in building, it’s not terrible but certainly a few more pies and sausage rolls have been consumed since stepping foot on the building site. 2 the aggression/primalness/ physical outlet of tackling and ball carrying. May just be me but I miss going one on one and trying to smash someone or most of the time trying  not to get smashed. 

What advice would you give to current athletes thinking about life after sport — especially those considering a trade?

Trades/carpentry have some key similarities to daily life as a pro footy player. Trades provide you with tangible work that you can be proud of. Hard work is rewarded. Currently a good time to get into an apprenticeship and it’s well supported though out the industry. There a many different careers within the trades to choose from. Also in my experience most tradies are good buggers too, salt of the earth people.