Adam Peters has had a remarkable sporting journey, with a rugby career spanning over eight years, Adam has played for teams such as Richmond Rugby Club, Coventry, Rotherham Titans and RC Hyères Carqueiranne La Crau in France. Currently, at the age of 30, Adam balances his rugby career with a commercial role at Moseley Rugby Club, where he is responsible for building relationships with sponsors and partners. He enjoys this dual career but acknowledges that it is a busy life, requiring him to juggle various responsibilities carefully and successfully. Reflecting on his career, Adam shared his pride in the achievements he has made both on and off the field. “I’ve got a million and one things in my head that I’m always thinking about. That’s probably why I don’t sleep very well sometimes at night,” Adam remarked, emphasising the demands and impact of balancing rugby, work and family life
Celebrating Achievements and Defining Moments
When reflecting on the highlights of his rugby career, Adam recalled his time playing for England U16s, acknowledging that it was a significant achievement, though one he only truly appreciated with hindsight. “When you’re young and you have great experiences, you almost take it for granted,” Adam said, referring, for example, to his trip to Italy with the England U16s squad. He played alongside future stars such as Anthony Watson but admitted, “You don’t realise how lucky you are until the time has gone or passed.”
Another standout memory was playing in the Championship Cup final with Coventry at Ealing, a match that ended in a loss for Coventry. Despite the defeat, Adam views this as one of his proudest moments, particularly because his family was present to support him. “Yes, we lost. And yes, you see the other team celebrating that they’ve won, but you know, that’s sport—you win and you lose. I came off the pitch happy because I’d had a great season. I felt like I’d had a really good game,” he reflected. Adam’s pride in that day came not only from his personal performance but also from having his family in the crowd. “They didn’t care whether we won or lost—they were just happy to see me,” Adam said, underscoring the importance of family support.
His experience playing in France also remains a cherished memory. He spoke about the challenges of living apart from his pregnant wife for several months when he first moved to play for RC Hyères Carqueiranne La Crau. “We had a couple of months apart, which added to challenges and difficulties,” he said, though he still views the experience positively. The laid-back culture and lifestyle in France were highlights for Adam, despite him being “more of a go-go-go kind of guy.”
Dual Careers and Transitions and the Importance of Routines
Adam’s journey as a dual-career athlete began at Loughborough University, where he studied while also playing rugby at a high level. “There are similarities [to now], but I was a lot younger and I had no responsibilities,” Adam reflected. At university, he had the flexibility to train extensively, even attending the gym twice a day and his recovery was faster due to youth. “I didn’t have a son, a house, or a dog to walk!” Adam remarked. His time at Loughborough taught him the importance of balancing responsibilities, a skill that continues to serve him well in his current life.
Adam’s transition from full-time professional rugby into a semi-professional role and his commercial career was not without challenges. He admits that managing both rugby and his new career requires a significant amount of organisation and routine, particularly as he balances family life and professional commitments. Adam works in the commercial department at Birmingham Moseley and plays rugby on Tuesday and Thursday evenings, with matches on Saturdays. His strategy for managing these responsibilities involves strict routines, including time for the gym, family and work. “I’m a sucker for routine,” Adam shared. “I love ticking things off in my head mentally,” showing his methodical approach to balancing his busy schedule.
Aware of the potential for burnout, Adam intentionally takes Wednesdays off from work to avoid spreading himself too thin. “I don’t want to burn the candle at both ends,” he explained, recognising the importance of maintaining energy for both his rugby and commercial roles. However, despite the busy nature of his life, Adam is still fully committed to rugby. “I’ve had a great career and I’m still enjoying it,” he said. He remains passionate about the sport, playing in National One, a semi-professional league and contributing to Birmingham Moseley’s success both on and off the pitch.
Technology and Recovery
Despite the increasing role of technology in sports, Adam prefers to rely on his own instincts and body awareness when it comes to recovery and performance. “I’m not really a stats person,” Adam said, explaining that while he checks data like GPS distances run during matches, his focus remains on how his body feels. For recovery, he favours traditional methods, with his ice bath playing a central role. “I recently invested in an ice bath, and that’s my five minutes of ‘me time,’” Adam shared. During his university days, Adam developed his own recovery routines, ensuring he completed key recovery tasks alongside training to stay in peak condition, a habit that continues to remain essential to his approach.
Adam highlighted the mental and physical challenges of transitioning from full-time professional sport to semi-professional rugby and a commercial role. For him, maintaining a routine, staying organised and prioritising recovery are crucial to his overall well-being. He uses the ice bath as a time to relax and reflect, often at night, explaining how it helps him to focus on his breathing and to feel gratitude for what he has. These moments of recovery allow Adam to stay balanced while managing the demands of rugby and his professional and personal life.
Adam’s ability to balance multiple roles and stay mentally strong, he acknowledges, is something that not all athletes may find easy. He emphasised the importance of having the right support systems, even if informal, such as family, team camaraderie and peer support. “There is natural support,” Adam said of the rugby environment, noting that players help one another without needing formal structures in place. For him, mentoring is an informal but vital part of rugby culture, as experienced players guide younger teammates through difficult times.
Lessons and Inspirations
Rugby has taught Adam many valuable lessons, including resilience, teamwork and the importance of enjoyment. He often reminded the players he coached at Warwick University to enjoy the game, emphasising that maintaining joy in what you do is key to longevity and success in both sport and life. “If you’re not enjoying yourself, then it’s probably time to stop,” Adam reflected, believing that challenges should be faced with determination, but also with a sense of fulfilment.
Adam also credits his family, including his wife and son, as his main source of motivation. “The important thing for me now is that I give my family and my wife enough time. To ensure that I have a happy home life and I’m not just focused on work and rugby,” he said. While family is his priority, rugby remains a key focus for Adam, as he continues to enjoy playing and contributing to his team’s success.
Another significant source of inspiration for Adam comes from his late grandfather, who introduced him to woodworking, a hobby that remains a passion today. Adam fondly recalled how his grandfather would build go-karts and slides for him as a child. “Every day I thought of him,” Adam said, referring to his grandfather while building a garden room at his home. This emotional connection has driven Adam both in sport and in life, influencing his values of hard work and resilience.
Advice for Athletes Preparing for Transition
For athletes nearing the end of their careers, Adam’s advice is simple: stay in the game as long as you can, if you enjoy it and if your body allows. “You don’t realise how good it is until it’s gone,” Adam said, encouraging athletes to make the most of their sporting careers while they can. He emphasised that it’s important to enjoy the sport and to recognise when it’s time to move on. Adam also advised athletes to stay true to themselves, acknowledging that everyone’s journey is different. “Work out what it is that you like doing,” he advised, suggesting that athletes should follow what works for them, rather than simply copying others.
Adam’s own successful transition into a commercial role at Birmingham Moseley is a testament to the value of transferable skills acquired through high performance sport. “I had no prior commercial experience, but I can talk and I’m happy to put myself out there,” he explained, crediting rugby with helping him develop the confidence and communication skills needed for his new role.
The Importance of Setting Goals
Throughout his rugby career, Adam has followed a structured approach to goal setting. He developed what he referred to as his “1-1-1-1-1” method for goal setting, where he broke down his five-year plan into one-year goals. “I used to have five-year goals and then I’d try to bring that back to a one-year goal,” Adam explained. This structured focus on setting short-term targets helped him stay on track both in rugby and in life. While his current focus is more family-oriented, Adam continues to believe in the importance of setting achievable goals to stay motivated and balanced.
Looking to the future, Adam’s primary focus is on maintaining a balance between his rugby career, work and family. “I want to grow old with my wife and have a very happy and loving family and the way to get that is to be present,” Adam said. In the short term, Adam is looking forward to a family trip to Dorset, a welcome break from his busy routine.
His professional goals include continuing to build partnerships for Birmingham Moseley and contributing to the team’s success on the pitch. “I want to play in as many games as possible this season and help the team succeed,” Adam explained. His experience and leadership are key assets for the club, as they strive to improve on their fifth-place finish from last season.
In his closing reflections, Adam stressed the importance of balance—whether in sport, work, or family life and the need for personal fulfilment in everything he does. He continues to ride the wave of his dual career, grateful for the opportunities he has had and looking forward to the future with optimism and enthusiasm, embracing the challenges and rewards that come with balancing his many roles.