Widnes Vikings players have been picking up tips from Halton Housing Trust staff about possible careers after rugby.

Players from the rugby league club tried their hands at plastering with the Trust’s Construction Services Team at its base in Foundry Lane.

“We all love playing rugby,” said Elliott Davis, who plays for the Vikings’ under 18 side.

“But we have got to think about our futures after we finish. This gives us the chance to consider our options.”

Jack Davis, another under 18s starlet, added: “The open day has given us the chance to assess our options. It’s good to know that after you’ve finished playing you can have something to fall back on.”

Players from the Vikings’ under 16, under 18, and senior squads also met members of the Trust’s Housing Management and Anti-Social Behaviour Teams and were offered the chance to take on work placement roles within different departments.

First team prop Gareth Haggerty, 28, said: “I’ve played rugby all my professional life. I may only have a few more years left playing so I’ve got to start thinking about what to do when I finish.

“It’s great that the Vikings and Halton Housing Trust are giving us the chance to look at different career paths – especially for the younger lads as it gives them a chance to start planning ahead now.”

The Trust’s training officer Karen Lopez said: “Many players have never experienced a professional life outside of rugby.

“The open day was about giving them the chance to gain some experience in other areas and to think about their future when their rugby career is over.”

The event ended with an It’s a Knockout style tournament with the players pitting their newly-found plastering skills against each other.

“It was a lot of fun but also a really good experience for the players,” said Widnes Viking Sporting Director Terry O’Connor.

“They got to pick up some new skills and were also given the chance to consider their futures outside of rugby.

“It can be daunting for any player to finish his career and not know what he is going to do next.”

Nick Atkin, Chief Executive of Halton Housing Trust, said: “This is another way the Trust is looking to support people from the local community.

“We want to make sure that Vikings players have a great career on the pitch, but are also given the opportunity to be equally as successful when they stop playing. It also provides us with an opportunity to continue to employ people who have a strong commitment to our customers and the communities in which they live”