From the Rugby Pitch to a Second Career: Inside the Falcon West Academy

Every professional rugby career eventually ends. For top athletes aiming for the LA Olympics, a Rugby World Cup, or an overseas contract, that chance often fades in their late twenties or early thirties. Many put their careers on hold to follow their dream. When their playing days are over, they still need a new path.

Falcon West Academy was created to help solve this problem. On the latest Falcon Forward podcast, Falcon West President Mike Tanghe and Peter Brecht discussed how the program started, how it has evolved, and what's planned for 2027.

An idea born from wearing two hats

Mike has been involved in rugby for years as a player, sponsor, and assistant coach. Many Falcon West clients also come from rugby. He notices that the sport in the US still relies heavily on volunteers, even with the Olympics coming to LA and the US set to host the Rugby World Cup in 2031 for men and 2033 for women.

"You can either complain on a message board about it, or you can try and do something."

Mike Tanghe

The idea was simple. Rugby players are competitive and coachable, but most don't have experience in sales, account management, or customer service. Falcon West does. So in October 2024, the firm launched a paid internship. Players can earn money while they keep competing and develop the professional skills they'll need after rugby.

From a spreadsheet to a custom platform

The first group included just two people. Everything was managed with an Excel spreadsheet and email, and the first week was simply called "Introduction to Insurance."

Peter used his own experience of moving into insurance as a second career. He taught himself through courses, podcasts, video modules, and many hours of reading. He built the curriculum around oil and gas, an industry most people don't know much about, so even those unsure about insurance would find something interesting to keep them engaged.

Each group gave feedback, and the program improved over time. Today, it looks like this:

• 12 weeks, at about 4 to 6 hours a week
• Three modules of four weeks each
• There's a hands-on project in each module. The first project is a competitor analysis that helps interns see things from the buyer's perspective. The second project looks at how each intern's skills can transfer into insurance.
• Interns have weekly one-on-one meetings with Peter, scheduled to fit different time zones and training schedules, even if that means meeting at 6 a.m. or 10 p.m.
• Three sessions a year

The program first switched from email to Notion. By the sixth group, it moved to a custom-built platform. Admission is competitive, with 20 to 25 applicants per session and two rounds of interviews.

Finding what each person does best

Mike especially values how the Academy reveals each person's real strengths. One current intern creates videos for his projects. A graduate known for his attention to detail now helps with Falcon West operations. Another spent four months in his off-season working full-time on Falcon West's AI projects and has since started his own company.

Some graduates have become full-time brokers at Falcon West. Others continue to play rugby and take on flexible, part-time projects during the off-season. "If we just put up a sign saying, 'Hey, we need an operations assistant,'" Mike said, "we're not gonna know who's coming in." The Academy helps the firm meet exceptional people that a regular job posting would never reach.

Bringing new people into insurance

The insurance industry has always found it hard to attract new talent. Most people end up in it by chance. In just a few years, the Academy has helped about 20 people gain a solid understanding of commercial and personal insurance, and a few have chosen it as their career.

Even graduates who move on from insurance leave with valuable knowledge. They know how to protect a business and buy coverage for themselves. Falcon West is open about its approach. Companies interested in supporting rugby or starting their own program are welcome to learn from what has worked.

What's next in 2027

Falcon West plans to run three Academy sessions in 2027. A big part of the plan is a partnership with Tri Line Management, which helps athletes find careers after sports. Tri Line leads a session on LinkedIn, prospecting, and personal branding. Peter is also inviting carrier and wholesale partners to teach the modules they know best.

The main goal now is consistency. It took seven sessions to show that the Academy works. The focus is on keeping it going, one session at a time.

We'll send invitations for the January 2027 session soon. If you're a rugby athlete considering your next steps after the game, or an organization interested in starting a similar program, we'd love to connect.

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