Tide turns as released Ospreys rugby player discovers new sport

Former Ospreys lock Will Greatbanks has revealed that he is quitting rugby to pursue his dream job in yachting, with ambitions to become the captain of a multi-million-pound Superyacht.

Greatbanks, 23, was one of 10 departures announced by the Ospreys at the end of last season after making seven appearances for the region. Last season, his only apperance was a 12-minute cameo in the United Rugby Championship defeat to Edinburgh.

He started his career with Pro D2 outfit Soyaux Charente in France, where he moved with his family as a child, but has told the Western Mail that quitting rugby for a life on the ocean wave is something he has been considering for a long time.

“I was thinking about what I wanted to do long-term, and that was the thing that came up. I stopped this season with the Ospreys, going to the end of last season. At the minute, I’m studying for qualifications that I need to get into the industry.

“There’s a couple of courses I need to do. Once I’ve got them, I’ll head down to the yachting hub where I’ll hopefully land a job. I’ve already got some contacts throughout this year in the industry who have guided me.

“It’s a weird industry. Putting your foot in the door is a long process. You’ve got to get down there and dock-walk really, hand out CVs and hope for a job. The long-term ambition is to become a captain of one of these big super yachts.

“When you start out, the first couple of years, you’ll be a deck-hand. Day-to-day, you live and work on the boat full-time. As a deck-hand, you’re responsible for the maintenance of the exterior of the boat.

“It (rugby) was a dream come true, but I want to build a career that I’m passionate about. I loved rugby and still love rugby now. But this is something that’s exciting me a lot at the minute. So I needed to give it a go and have no regrets.”