What athletes wish they knew sooner.

What do elite athletes wish they’d done before hanging up the boots, taking of their pads for the last time or laying down their ore? What conversations do they look back on and wish they’d had? What preparation really counts? This week, we take a different approach.

Instead of a guest, Karl and James dive into the biggest lessons, recurring themes, and behind-the-scenes insights that have emerged from hundreds of conversations with elite athletes who’ve made the leap from sport to life beyond the game.

From Olympians to international rugby players, cricketers and footballers, these are the truths we’ve heard time and time again, and the practical takeaways we want every current athlete to hear before the lights go out.

Key Takeaways:

• Curiosity leads to clarity.
• Conversations change careers.
• Your network is your edge.
• Reframe rejection and injury as opportunity.
• Your mindset is a superpower.

If you’re an athlete thinking about what’s next, or someone who supports them, this episode is packed with the insight, honesty, and actionable advice you’ve come to expect from Athlete to Athlete.

About the Hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Cheetahs, Kings, Bath, and Zebre Parma hooker, Jacques du Toit, has lived the highs of professional rugby, winning Currie Cups, playing in Super Rugby and the Premiership, and representing South Africa at the U’20’s World Cup, but also the deep challenges that come when the game ends. In this episode, Jacques shares a raw and honest reflection on his transition journey, from struggling to let go of his rugby identity to rediscovering his purpose beyond the pitch.

Key takeaways:

· Why having people who stand by you through the dark days, are crucial during transition.

· How stepping away from rugby left a void of identity and structure, and why athletes must prepare early to avoid the same shock.

· The unique soft skills athletes don’t realise they already have.

· The mistake of trying to separate completely from rugby.

· Why curiosity, networking, and engaging with the people around your sport can open unexpected doors.

· How he’s now channelling his energy into Leap Digital, his growing marketing business, proving that building a fulfilling second chapter is possible.

Alongside his wife, Ilse they have founded Leap Digital, their mission being to empower businesses to stand out and thrive with innovative, tailored digital marketing solutions - Learn More About Leap Digital

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former Croatian international and professional volleyball player, Bernarda Brčić, has lived the highs of life on the court, competing for her country, playing across Europe, and building a career defined by discipline and performance. But what happens when the final whistle blows?

In this powerful conversation, Bernarda opens up about the reality of transition, from losing her sense of identity after retirement to rediscovering herself as a coach and mentor. She speaks with raw honesty about the struggles athletes face when structure disappears, when hobbies don’t exist outside of sport, and when the people around you have moved on with their lives.

Key takeaways from Bernarda’s journey:

• Your skills are transferable: even if you don’t realise it while playing, leadership, management, and adaptability are built into your career.
• Start exploring early: don’t wait until after retirement to figure out who you are and what excites you outside of sport.
• Identity is fragile: losing the jersey can leave a void, but talking, reflecting, and taking ownership of your choices helps you move forward.
• Be kind to yourself: the perfectionist athlete mindset doesn’t always serve you after sport. Growth takes patience, self-compassion, and perspective.
• Stay present: life is unpredictable, embracing gratitude and living day by day is a powerful way to create fulfilment beyond the game.

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From scoring goals for Wrexham and Chester, leading Llandudno as vice-captain and Caernarfon and representing his country, Wales, Marc Williams’ football career was built on resilience, adaptability, and heart. But like many athletes, the toughest opponent he ever faced wasn’t on the pitch, it was the transition beyond it.

In this honest and impactful conversation, Marc opens up about the emotional rollercoaster of retirement, the challenge of losing structure and identity, and how goal-setting became his compass through the uncertainty. He shares the raw truths of elite sport, being outperformed and still overlooked, the sudden stop of the sporting carousel, and the mindset shift needed to thrive beyond the game.

In this episode, Marc shares:

• Why losing structure can be one of the hardest parts of retirement
• The brutal honesty required to move forward in life after sport
• How rejection shaped his resilience, and why it’s not always personal
• Why setting personal and professional goals is non-negotiable
• The importance of staying flexible and passionate when carving a new path

Marc now plays a key role for Epic Global solutions, a global partner for gambling harm prevention - https://www.epicglobalsolutions.com/

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Olympic silver medallist, Four Continents medallist, and national champion, Dylan Moscovitch spent years chasing excellence in a sport defined by precision, pressure, and performance. But what happens when the music stops, the audience fades, and the identity you’ve built is no longer enough?

Dylan reflects on the emotional unravelling of life after elite sport and how he has intentionally rebuilt a deeper, more authentic sense of self beyond the rink.

Key Takeaways

• Don’t wait to figure out who you are - start asking those questions while you’re still competing.
• Identity built on applause, performance, and feedback can feel hollow when the game ends.
• You’re allowed to be more than your sport..
• The courage, grit, and discipline that made you an elite athlete can serve your rebirth.
• Be careful not to outsource your power - no one else knows your path better than you.

Dylan is a guide, speaker, mindset and transition coach. He is the founder of The Liminal Way, the co-founder of Menkind Collective, as well as co-leading TIERRA Viviente and SamatiXobo with his wife, Mariana. They currently reside in Costa Rica, at Yacumama Ecovillage, where they offer a much of their in-person retreat work.

You can out more about him and his work at dylanmoscovitch.com and on instagram at @Dylan.moscovitch

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Former professional scrum-half Dave Lewis shares a career journey built on proactive thinking, conscious decision-making, and taking full ownership of life beyond rugby. With around 200 appearances for Exeter Chiefs, Gloucester, Harlequins, and representative honours with England Saxons, Dave knows the demands of elite sport, but more importantly, he understood it wouldn’t last forever.

Key Takeaways:

• You are in the business of you, no one will prepare for your next chapter unless you do.
• Being proactive doesn’t just help your future, it reduces the fear in the present.
• Clarifying what you don’t want next can be just as powerful as knowing what you do.
• Transition isn’t a challenge, it’s a paid opportunity to build your next chapter while still playing.
• Every conversation, every relationship built off the pitch is an investment in tomorrow.

Today, Dave helps people plan for their future with clarity and confidence through his work at Biograph Wealth Advisors, a financial planning business built on insight, trust, and long-term relationships.

🔗 Find out more at biograph.co.uk

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Chelsea and QPR to youth international honours for Ireland, James Daly spent his career competing at the top of professional football, but behind the boots was a player always thinking ahead, about identity, preparation, and how to make the most of his second chapter.

Now forging a career at Morgan Stanley, James joins us on Athlete to Athlete: Lessons for Life Beyond the Game to reflect on his journey. He opens up about the mindset that made him better on the pitch, the value of education off it, and why more athletes need to start thinking about life beyond the game before it hits them.

Key takeaways:

• Sharpen your mind, sharpen your game – curiosity and focus outside sport can enhance your performance within it.
• Don’t undervalue your athlete toolkit – skills like resilience, communication, and discipline translate powerfully in the corporate world.
• If you’re not thinking about what’s next, you’re giving up control – explore, learn, and build now.
• Opportunities don’t fall in your lap – create them, ask for them, and own your narrative.

Whether you’re mid-career, retiring, or just starting to think about your next move, James’s story is a powerful reminder that athletes bring far more to the table than they often realise.

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Justin Fitzpatrick, former Irish international, Heineken Cup winner with Ulster, and seasoned professional with London Irish and Castres, joined us on Athlete to Athlete: Lessons for Life Beyond the Game to talk through the mindset shifts, missteps, and lessons learned from life after elite rugby.

Despite preparing for the inevitable, Justin still felt the shock of stepping away. The loss of purpose, the shift in identity, and the looming question: What now?

In this powerful episode, Justin offers a clear, experienced voice for any current athlete navigating that same question. Whether you're nearing the end or just getting started, his advice is essential listening.

Key Takeaways:

• Know where you're headed: Start with the end in mind, then build a path toward it.
• Preparation matters: You can’t delay the conversation just because you're still playing.
• Ask for help: There are people who want to support you, but they won’t know unless you ask.
• You’ve already got what it takes: Your mindset, adaptability, and resilience are deeply valuable beyond sport.
• Take ownership: Seasons can fly by, make sure each one moves you forward, not just in rugby or sport, but in life.

About the hosts

James Rule, Co-Founder of ATA, is a seasoned leadership coach and former professional rugby player with extensive experience in high-performance sports management. Having held CEO roles at Super League clubs and senior positions in major sporting organisations, he understands the pressures of transitioning beyond elite competition. A passionate advocate for athlete development, James drives ATA’s mission to provide structured, research-driven support, ensuring athletes are equipped for long-term success beyond the game.

Karl Birch, Co-Founder of ATA, is a former rugby player turned coach, mentor, and leadership specialist. With over a decade in medical sales, where he led a team, he combines industry expertise with a deep understanding of the athlete mindset to help athletes transition into meaningful careers beyond sport. Passionate about early preparation and proactive career planning, he has guided former athletes through transition, ensuring they step confidently into their next chapter.

Connect and Contact

Website:

www.athletetransitionaccelerator.com

LinkedIn:

Athlete Transition Accelerator: https://www.linkedin.com/company/athlete-transition-accelerator/

James Rule: https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-rule-77255520/

Karl Birch: linkedin.com/in/karlbbirch10

Instagram:

@ataccelerator https://www.instagram.com/ataccelerator

Email:

support@athletetransitionaccelerator.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.