Ex-Castleford Tigers, Wakefield Trinity and Huddersfield Giants ace Keith Mason on his Yorkshire-based movie

It was at Stringfellows, after playing for Huddersfield Giants in their 2009 Challenge Cup final loss to Warrington Wolves at Wembley, that the former Wakefield Trinity and Castleford Tigers prop chanced upon the famous A-lister in a moment that changed his life.

Mason, of course, forged a close friendship with Rourke and – after retiring from playing in 2013 – flew to America to visit him.

From there, despite never acting before, he was offered his own small part in Skin Traffik, a film that starred Daryl Hannah and Michael Madsen and saw Mason play Rourke’s ‘heavy.’

It started something which meant the Yorkshireman’s retirement plans have become distinctly different to most other players.

For example, Dewsbury-born Mason has since appeared in hit BBC series Peaky Blinders but – demonstrating his versatility again – has also produced a graphic novel called Rugby Blood which has reimagined some of the sport’s top stars like Daryl Clark, Jermaine McGillvary and Jake Connor as fictional superheroes.

Furthermore, the 38-year-old has former world champion boxer Joe Calzaghe and The Last Leg presenter Adam Hills involved in the novel and a sportswear range has materialised off the back of it as well.