From garbage man to footy star to male model: Former NRL enforcer with trademark afro who was forced to quit because of severe concussions continues to reinvent himself
- Former rugby league player who became a garbage man has reinvented himself
- Eloni Vunakece, 32, quit last year and has now turned his hand to male modelling
- He made his modelling debut for luxe active wear collection by Body Science
A rugby league player who worked as a garbage man while chasing his NRL dream has continued to reinvent himself since leaving the sport.
Former Sydney Roosters player Eloni Vunakece, 32, quit the NRL at the end of last year due to ongoing health fears, has now turned his hand to male modelling.
The 32-year-old has signed with a modelling agency and last week made his debut showing off a luxe active wear collection with Body Science, the Daily Telegraph reported.
‘It was so much fun,’ Vunakece said.
Vunakece, who has worked as a garbage collector on the side for years, has also emerged as the face of the new season of Australian Ninja Warrior.
Former Sydney Roosters player Eloni Vunakece, 32 (pictured), who quit rugby at the end of last year due to ongoing health fears, has now turned his hand to male modelling
Vunakece (right), who has reportedly signed with a modelling agency, last week made his editorial debut to launch a luxe active wear collection with Body Science
Vunakece (pictured), who has worked as a garbage collector on the side for years, has also emerged as the face of the new season of Australian Ninja Warrior
Vunakece said he made the decision to quit league last year because he feared the long-term health effects of all the knocks to the head would eventually take its toll.
While the decision to quit the game he loved and played for about 26 years wasn’t easy, the 32-year-old finally agreed after doctors told him it was in his best interest.
He said he also weighed in the fact that at his age there was ‘nothing else to achieve to really need to warrant the risk’.
Despite his successes, the Fijan international made his NRL debut quite late at the age of 28, where he played nine games for the Roosters in 2016.
He said the final decision to quit came after a heart-to-heart conversation with his father and former Balmain, Cronulla and North Sydney forward Dave Cooper.
Vunakece (right) said he enjoyed his new modelling career but wouldn’t exactly call himself a model – at least not yet
Vunakece (pictured) has emerged as the face of the new season of Australian Ninja Warrior
Vunakece (pictured) said he is excited to see his kids’ reaction when he appears on Australian Ninja Warrior
Vunakece said his father reassured him it was the right decision to quit as there wasn’t anything left to prove – especially given the concussion issue.
The 32-year-old has researched the impact of repeated head knocks, and has even signed up to donate his brain to concussion research when he dies.
His latest venture comes amid much debate over the concussion issue, with three law firms reportedly this week revealing they plan to launch class actions.
‘We don’t really know how bad it could be long term,’ Vunakece said.
The former NRL player (pictured right with wife Mel) has two daughters and one son