ALAN Awcock always knew he would have to reconsider his professional playing career and made sure he was the one to pull the plug.

The former London Welsh man turned his back on the higher echelons of the game at the end of last season to take up a new job at Magdalen College School, Oxford.

Awcock spent three campaigns in a full-time environment, all with the Exiles, which included a year pitting his wits against some of the world’s best players in the Aviva Premiership in 2014/15.

The 28-year-old, who was born in Oxford, now plays for Henley Hawks in National League 2 South, but his school commitments as rugby professional, where he coaches pupils from under eight to 18, take priority – playing is no longer a job.

Awcock said: “Although it was a difficult decision to make to leave a professional environment, I came across two great opportunities at Magdalen and Henley.

“I’ve not played a huge amount this season with taking a job and Saturday fixtures with the school, but they have been good saying I can play when I’m available.”

Having taken up a director of rugby course through the Rugby Players’ Association while with the Exiles, Awcock had already begun looking into a move away from playing in the Greene King IPA Championship.

It coincided with doubts over Welsh’s future, who entered liquidation at the end of last season and have been subsequently banned from professional rugby.

Awcock said: “The job came up in January last year and I was not sure if I wanted to play another season.

“I had not been involved in every game and it was quite an uncertain time.

“I could have gone and played somewhere else in the Championship, but if you battle it out for ten years you have to find a job anyway.

“I had to make a decision that I don’t want to be doing this, my body will probably tell me ‘no’ at some point in the next few years and it was probably better for me to experience something else.”

Awcock signed a pro deal with the Exiles in 2013 having impressed against the club in a friendly for Henley.

That season he combined his job as Welsh’s community development officer with his playing commitments, before turning his attention fully to rugby.

But professional sport does not last forever and Awcock, who now lives just outside of Abingdon, always had one eye on his future.

He said: “The lifestyle is amazing, you train 8-2 from Monday to Tuesday, it’s quite intense, in for a couple of hours on Thursday and Friday, but it gives you a lot of time to do other things.

“I started Level 3 coaching and I also did the RPA course in developing myself to go into that environment.

“If you sit there and do nothing you miss opportunities.”