Leinster Rugby v Cardiff Blues

McWeeney remains closest to after his
playing days.
“When you are in that rugby
environment, the true test of friendship is
when you are still making an effort to stay
in touch 15 years later.
Unlike so many others, McWeeney
stepped away from the game at a
relatively young age (29) to begin his
second career.
“I had considered moving abroad and
there were a few opportunities that, in the
end, I didn’t really explore. In my head, I
just needed a new challenge.
“So I requested not to be considered
for a contract renewal. I almost needed
to go and do something else and that
something else turned out to be financial
services.
“I felt the drive to get involved in that then
rather than chase a lifestyle and a dream
for another few years. I would be a better
proposition as a hire and it would stand
to me career-wise to get out there and
then.”
John has lived in Terenure for 20 years
and is married to Avril with their two
children, Olivia (8) and Alexander (5).
He has no regrets about the decision to
leave professional rugby.
“I feel I would have side-stepped into
rugby at the start. It was never my plan to
play professional rugby,” he shared.
“I was in college when this came upon
me and when the chance came around,
it was a case of ‘why wouldn’t you take
it on?’ I had always anticipated moving
into financial services and that is where
I am.
He is Head of the Private Client Lending
team at Investec and has been able
to take much of what he learned and
observed in rugby into the mainstream
workplace.
“I retired 15 years ago. It seems like a
lifetime away. I am still proud to have
been involved in the organisation. It
is nice, even now, that people will still
remember that.
“The key for me, in terms of what I
learned is that you should always
communicate well with the people you
work with. Be honest with them. In rugby
sometimes, coaches weren’t as honest as
they could be. They were trying to keep
everyone happy rather than give them
the truth.
“If I look back at my time in rugby, and
what Leinster transformed into, the core of
the team I left turned into the best team in
Europe by the end of the decade. When
I was there, we didn’t have that belief or
that winning mindset that was needed.
“It was great for me to see Leinster
evolve, knowing that I had been part of it
at a time when it wasn’t working as well
as it should. There wasn’t a huge amount
needed to move something from being
average to exceptional.
“That is why in my working environment
I try to ensure the mindset is right. If you
are not striving to be better, you will never
achieve what you should. If you take that
lesson into anything you do, you realise
the only difference is yourself and what
you bring to it.”
www.leinsterrugby.ie | 65 | From The Ground Up