Long-time rugby player Connal McInerney has carved a pathway from scrums to sales. And so far, he couldn’t be happier. Photo: Lachlan Lawson Photography.
The life of an elite athlete is about as fast-paced as it gets. But when it’s time to hang up the boots, professional sportsmen such as Connal McInerney have a new challenge to tackle – figuring out what awaits after the lineout.
Born and raised in South Canberra, Connal fell in love with footy during his school years.
He made his professional Super Rugby debut with the ACT Brumbies in 2018 and went on to play seven seasons with the Canberra-based side, primarily as hooker.
In 2021, Connal’s competitive edge earned him a call-up to the Wallabies. A glorious maiden try in the final minutes defined his international Test debut against Japan.
Though he officially retired from Super Rugby last year, Connal spent the first half of 2025 playing for the New England Freejacks in American Major League Rugby.
“Competing overseas was great! Sport has always been a part of my life and always will be, so it was awesome to experience America’s rugby scene,” he says.
“Once you get a taste of the competition at an elite level, that drive never really goes away.
“But no matter how good you are, you can’t play professionally forever. It’s really important to have something fulfilling planned for your post-match career.”
With this in mind, Connal pursued business management while playing professionally. Balancing study and sport was a tough slog, but he’s never been afraid of hard work.
“I was really proud to graduate uni in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in applied business management,” Connal says.
“I took some time to think about how I wanted to use that degree post-rugby and decided sales was the way to go. I’m a real people person and love helping others realise their goals while working on my own, so it just felt right.”
With many sales avenues to explore, Connal was keen to seek out a dynamic role with room to grow. He found his perfect match in the property sector.
“Real estate is fast paced, results driven, and pretty competitive,” he says.
“You only get out what you put in and everyone has a role to play, just like rugby. Believe it or not, there are also heaps of transferable skills between the two.
“Playing professionally for so many years really honed my ability to problem solve and adapt on the fly. Communication, teamwork, discipline and resilience are also huge on the field.”
Connal is finding his feet with the help of experienced sales agents at McIntyre Property. Photo: Michelle Kroll.
Connal had one last hurdle before getting into the industry proper – finding the right mentor to show him the ropes.
Enter Col McIntyre. Alongside his wife Jo, Col leads the award-winning McIntyre Property, a widely respected agency specialising in residential sales across Canberra.
“I think you can learn a lot about a person by looking at who they surround themselves with,” Connal says.
“Sitting down with Col and getting to know his vision and values really solidified my decision to enter real estate. Everyone speaks so highly of him, but also of his entire team.”
Alongside its leadership, McIntyre Property’s genuine, relaxed approach resonates with Connal.
“We believe people come first and everyone deserves a professional service, no matter who they are, where they come from, or what their property is worth.
“The team also has a solid commitment to local charities and sports teams, which obviously means a lot to me. It’s an honour to be part of that.”
Connal recently completed his assistant agent registration course through Real Mastery Consulting and is spending plenty of time at auctions and open homes around Canberra to familiarise himself with the local market.
“The focus right now is to turn up, work hard, and be a bit of a sponge,” he says.
“My next step is to get some hands-on experience. I’ll need to learn the ropes for a bit before tackling my first listing, but keep an eye out for me in the near future.”
Looking to buy or sell? Get in touch with McIntyre Property.
