There are few of the highs and lows of professional sport Ryan Brierley has not seen or experienced during his 12-year rugby league career. It is a big part of the reason why the Salford Red Devils full-back has built a second career as a players’ agent.

The 31-year-old may not have initially intended to enter into the world of player representation until hanging up his boots, but the past four years have seen it grow into a thriving operation looking after the interests of players in football’s Women’s Super League

Be it transfer wrangles, contract negotiations, or even the issues which come with injury or loss of form, Brierley is determined to ensure players are protected as best as possible – and has quickly realised problems which he thought just occurred in his sport are not unique to it as well.