Everitt says at heart he will always be a London Irish fan

Former London Irish fly-half, Barry Everitt says more should be done to help athletes plan for retirement.

Everitt recently retired from the game to take up a teaching position, but told BBC Berkshire he is fortunate.

He said: "I had plenty of support from my family growing up and education was something that they pushed.

"But there are athletes out there that never make it, that are unlucky or have terrible injuries and it's important to keep an eye on the future."

Everitt believes there is a growing problem with young players in all sports.

"There are a lot of academies that will take them at a very young age and the spotlight is taken away from education," he said.

"We've got to look at the percentage of those that are going to make it and how many are actually going to earn enough money so that when they finish they can retire.

"I can guarantee you in rugby that's a tiny, tiny percentage."

Everitt has been appointed director of sport at Cranmore Preparatory School for boys in Surrey and thanks his education for his post-retirement career.

Despite ending his career as a professional sportsman, Everitt said the Exiles will always be very important to him.

"I'd like [the London Irish fans] to remember me as someone who gave my career for the club and gave everything I had for the club and I will always support them.

"When I came back down with Northampton I didn't know how I'd be taken by the supporters because obviously I feel this way but whether or not they knew I felt this way, I didn't know.

"I remember going out to the warm-up and I took a big deep breath. They all clapped and that for me was probably the greatest gift they could give back to me.

"I'll always be a London Irish supporter at heart, irrespective of what I'm doing or where I am."

You can hear an extended interview with Barry Everitt on BBC Radio Berkshire on Saturday 10 July from 1400.

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