A professional rugby player from Hornchurch turned down a chance to return to the Premiership to create a luxury Cornish ‘glamping’ experience.

Newly retired prop, Adam Black, 36, hung up his boots with Worcester Warriors after securing their return to the top flight last season to tackle the ’staycation’ trend by creating a unique camping experience - luxury authentic Mongolian yurt-based accommodation.

Adam, who has played in both the Premiership and Magners League, is now enjoying running East Thorne Yurts and Cottages.

He has seized the opportunity for a career change and new way of life, relocating to the stunning area of Bude, Cornwall with his family - wife Naomi and children Caitlin and Ayla - to launch their new business.

Their luxury yurt site, East Thorne Cornwall, opened in August 2011.

Adam said: “Rugby gives you such a battering and I was fortunate enough to stay fit until the end of my career. I wanted to go out on a high and I knew it was the right time for me to retire. There were probably a few more miles in the tank, but it’s about the bigger picture for the whole family and taking the chances to follow your dreams. I have been lucky enough to do that twice in a row in my careers.

“We feel we’ve made something extra special; the accommodation is as stunning as the area and we’re doing something that really respects the nature around us. It’s very exciting to be able to do this with my family. I’m privileged to retire from the game with so much to look forward to. Cornwall is such a beautiful place and it’s provided us with the perfect setting for our alternative ‘glamping’ business and a great place to bring up our familiy”

The business idea originated from the family’s own experiences, as Naomi explained:

“Adam and I honeymooned in a rainforest retreat in Canada in 2007 and were blown away by the idea. We looked for similar ‘glamping’ holidays back home in the UK and although there are yurts around, none that we found offered everything we were looking for. So when Adam started nearing the end of his career, we looked into the idea and knew we could make a success out of it. We are both very ambitious and motivated and neither of us are people who want to work nine-to-five for someone else. This will keep us all in the great outdoors and it’s only a couple of miles from the beach. It is such a great experience for the kids to grow up with; such a different way of life. We can be around them but still working hard.”