A FORMER Huddersfield and Great Britain rugby star who hung up his professional boots three years ago is tackling a new career as a prison officer.
Ex-Huddersfield and Leeds Rhinos prop Darren Fleary is kicking his rugby league days into touch as he takes on his new role, looking after the 1,000 inmates at Armley Jail in Leeds.
The Great Britain international was a tough, uncompromising prop for the Rhinos from 1997 to 2001.
He then played for his home town side, Huddersfield, and Leigh.
The 35-year-old retired from professional playing at the end of the 2005 season.
But he still trains at Huddersfield and will turn out for the Prison Service team.
Darren – pictured during his playing days for the Giants – said it was the “structure and teamwork” of the prison service that had attracted him to the work.
“I also wanted to put something back into the community,” he added.
