Educational

SUPPORT

Make your gameplan a career in the trades.

The Hurricanes Alumni Foundation Trust is proud to support a wide range of education and training opportunities that help alumni thrive beyond rugby. A playing career is only one chapter of life, and building skills for the future is just as important as the work put in on the field.

Through partnerships like BCITO Sports, players can gain qualifications and plan for long-term careers while still pursuing their passion for the game. Whether it’s through apprenticeships, trade training, or flexible study options, these programmes are designed to fit around the unique demands of professional sport.

By supporting both current players and alumni, we’re helping to create smoother transitions, stronger career pathways, and greater confidence for life after rugby.

About Apprenticeships

Apprenticeships offer a practical pathway for players and alumni to build skills and qualifications that last well beyond their playing days. They combine hands-on training with recognised qualifications, creating strong career foundations while still allowing flexibility to balance sporting commitments.

Education and career development are crucial parts of the transition from rugby into life beyond the game. Programmes like BCITO Sports ensure alumni have the skills, qualifications, and confidence to build a future outside the sport, while still playing at the top level.

Apprenticeships with BCITO Sports:

Balancing top-flight sporting commitments with study or trade work has always been a challenge. As New Zealand’s largest provider of construction trade apprenticeships, BCITO supports over 16,000 apprentices and is changing the game for professional athletes. The BCITO Sports initiative makes it possible to start a trade apprenticeship while still playing — in New Zealand or overseas — giving players and alumni the skills, qualifications, and confidence to build a future beyond rugby.

BCITO’s Sports Enterprise Package offers flexible, accessible learning to suit the unique lifestyle of professional athletes:

- Opportunity to gain trade qualifications while playing sport

- Flexible programmes designed to fit around training and playing schedules

- Endorsed by current and former players, who share real-life success stories to inspire others

- Practical support to ensure study and sport can work together