Now, a new initiative's aiming to help future-proof sport stars careers and get more workers into the construction industry.
The industry's training organisation's new package lets national level players complete apprenticeships.
Former All Black turned tradie Chris Jack says when he finished playing rugby, he had no back up.
He says it felt like leaving school again and he had a whole lot of skills he'd learnt in rugby, but wasn't sure what to do with them.
