I Had Options… But No Plan — Lloyd Ashley's Journey After Rugby

In this powerful conversation, former rugby talent Lloyd opens up about the real challenges athletes face when transitioning out of sport — identity loss, fear, pressure, injuries, expectations, and finding purpose beyond performance.
From nearly missing out on the Wales U18 team… to a career-shifting ACL injury… to becoming a Player Development Manager (PDM) helping athletes build their lives off the pitch — Lloyd shares raw, honest insights you won’t hear anywhere else.

Whether you're an athlete, coach, student, or anyone going through life transitions, this episode will inspire you with practical lessons on resilience, mindset, communication, and redefining success.

🎧 What You’ll Learn in This Episode

How athletes can prepare for life after sport

Why people fear regret more than failure

The importance of honest communication

How injuries shape mindset and identity

How to build structure after leaving a structured life

What PDMs actually do for athletes

How to handle uncertainty and find purpose
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⭐ This episode is sponsored by Upskilled
Discover more at 👉 https://www.upskilled.edu.au/mini-mba...
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📌 Chapters
00:00 – Intro & Recording Setup
00:42 – Meeting Lloyd & Early Connection
01:58 – Loving Rugby but Discovering a New Passion
02:57 – The Reality of Player Conversations
04:04 – What a PDM Actually Does
06:15 – “I’d Do This Job for Free”
08:40 – When Players Fall Out of Love with Their Sport
10:51 – We Don’t Hate Structure — We Hate the Wrong Structure
11:50 – Freedom vs. Routine After Sport
13:20 – Making Wales U18 After Being Dropped
14:20 – Hard Work Creates Luck
15:13 – Fear of Regret vs. Fear of Failure
16:14 – Injuries That Change Everything
17:40 – Rebuilding Confidence & Direction
19:30 – Transition Into the PDM Role
21:10 – Supporting Players Through Their Journey
23:05 – What Athletes Really Struggle With
25:22 – Communication & Being Honest
27:15 – Identity After Rugby
29:40 – “Am I Doing the Right Thing?”
31:49 – “I Had Options… But No Plan”
33:50 – Building Self-Awareness
36:20 – Balancing Career & Relationships
38:40 – Don’t Be Scared to Say What You Need
40:50 – Helping Athletes Build Life Off the Pitch
43:15 – Being Present vs. Future Anxiety
45:05 – Supporting Athlete Families
47:20 – Handling Tough Conversations
49:30 – Building Trust With Players
51:10 – Managing Expectations
53:44 – “I Don’t Know My Future — And That’s Okay”
55:20 – Embracing Change & Growth
57:30 – Redefining Success After Sport
59:55 – Final Thoughts & Advice
1:02:00 – Outro

life after sport

athlete transition

rugby career journey

player development manager

sports identity crisis

life after rugby

athlete mental health

sports psychology podcast

ACL injury recovery story

finding purpose after sport

performance to purpose

career clarity podcast

Ryan Gonsalves interview

athlete life lessons

sports motivation story

resilience and mindset

sports injury motivation

professional sports transition

athlete retirement planning

Lloyd rugby story

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