Jeremy Fuller was a rising star of Australian rugby league. Sacrificing, training and playing for teams like the Canterbury Bulldogs and the South Sydney Rabbitohs, his goal of playing in the NRL (National Rugby League) was finally within grasp. Then, to the shock and anger of friends and fans, he walked away. Why? Twenty year old Jeremy tells Fervr his powerful story of having it all and counting it all as loss.
Jeremy, can you tell us a bit about your rugby career?
I started playing when I was 4 years old for a junior club in Revesby Heights. And I really enjoyed the game and was very passionate from a young age. I had a loving family that always took me to my training and games. From the age of 10 I started playing for a different junior club, St Christopher’s, and when I got to the age of 14 I started in the Canterbury Bulldogs development program. A couple of years later, this led to the NSW rugby league junior representative competitions. I played for Harold Matthews Cup under 16s, that was in 2010, and SG Ball cup under 18s, which was in 2012—I represented Canterbury Bulldogs in those years. At the age of 17 and 18, which was 2011 and 2012, I captained St Christopher’s under 19s to two premierships in a row. And after the grand final in 2012, I was offered a contract to play for South Sydney Rabbitohs Holden Cup under 20s for the following year, which I signed, and I started pre-season with them. And last year, in 2013, I played 22 games for South Sydney Rabbitohs in the Holden Cup.
What did rugby league mean to you?
Rugby league, I would say, was my life. I loved the game. I worked very hard, especially in the later years of my career, I worked very, very hard. I was willing to make sacrifices and go to any extent to reach my goal which was to play in the NRL. A lot of the decisions in my life were made based on whether they benefited or hindered my rugby league career. I could pretty much sum it up and say that rugby league was my god.
What led you to leave rugby league?
It was heavy conviction from the Spirit of God alone that led me to leave behind my career—the Lord was continually pressing it on me for months that this was not where he wanted me to be. I wasn’t comfortable continuing on the following year, I didn’t have peace between myself and God. Also, through the preaching of his Word at church, God was pressing it on me to leave, and also just through the Word of God itself while reading and pondering on it. A couple of verses that the Lord spoke to me about in regards to the decision that I had to make was Proverbs 3:5: "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding" (KJV). And when I read and pondered these words, the Lord was telling me—even though I couldn’t understand why he was telling me to leave or I couldn’t see the sense in it—just to trust in him. And there was another verse also, Exodus 33:15-16, where it’s talking about Moses:
"And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence. For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? Is it not in that thou goest with us? So shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth." (KJV)
And I was reading that verse when I was in my daily devotional time, right before I was going to make my decision, and the Lord just confirmed my decision to leave and—in comparison to Moses saying to the Lord that if the Lord’s presence didn’t go with him (“carry us not up hence”)—the Lord said to me: Rugby league is not where I want to take you. So yeah, that was how the Lord led me to leave rugby league, and I just praise him for how powerful his Word is—it’s alive and it’s amazing.
How did people react when you left rugby league?
Most people didn’t take it very well. Most of my family and friends are unbelievers and the Bible says that those who don’t have the Spirit of God can’t understand spiritual things (1 Corinthians 2:14)—and that’s what it pretty much was, they couldn’t understand. On Facebook I was heavily persecuted by a lot of people. A lot of people were upset and there were even a few people who were close to me who didn’t want to speak to me for a while.
I think a lot of people thought I was a bit brainwashed as well. But I thank God because if that happened to me before I was saved—everyone going off at me and persecuting me and saying things to me—I wouldn’t have reacted very well. I would have been very angry and I probably would have been doing the same to them. But thank God that when all this happened, I just had peace, and I just took the persecution and I just said to them, “I’ll always love you guys. I know it’s hard for you to understand but this is the decision I want to make to honour God because I love him, and I hope this doesn’t come between our relationship”. So thank God for the grace he gave me.
Has your decision to leave rugby league opened your family’s and friends’ eyes to God?
Yes, I believe it has. I know that a lot of people watched me make this decision. And my family and friends knew how much I loved the game, and how hard I was working, and what I was willing to do. To see me walk away, they know it’s not a joke or anything like that, it’s something real. I remember when I was about to make my decision, and I wasn’t a hundred percent sure, I was with my best mate and he said to me, “There must be something real about this”. That’s what he said. And now he’s actually asking me some questions, biblical doctrine questions. My family definitely do know that there is something about this, that it’s definitely opened up their eyes. But whether they react good to it or not, [I think of] Joseph and his brothers—they send him into slavery and in Genesis 50:20, Joseph says that they meant it for evil but God meant it for good. So God was working in them and was in control the whole time. I just trust in the Lord that he is able to save my family and friends. I know I’ve got to continue to walk in him and be that light, and just keep praying and pleading for the Lord to save my friends. That is my desire, for them to be saved.
Why do you think God wanted you to leave rugby?
There are a few things he has shown me for now. One of them is that I can now faithfully attend church. I could never really faithfully, consistently attend church while playing rugby league. Another reason is that I can now use my talents to serve him. I have much more time to serve him and, most importantly, more time now to spend with him. They’re just a couple of things he’s shown me at the moment and if he decides to reveal anything else, or he doesn’t, I’ll just trust in him and I’ll either find out soon or I’ll find out in heaven.
Do you think one day you’ll regret your decision?
No, I won’t regret the decision to leave behind my career as I know I’m in God’s will, which is the best place I can be. My life is amazing now and I’ve had true joy living in a relationship with God and serving him - more than what I had while playing rugby league, even though I loved and enjoyed the game. The things of this world can’t compare to what you have as a believer in your personal relationship with Christ Jesus. The only thing I would ever regret, on the day of my death, is if I haven’t lived for Christ.
Why did you put your story on YouTube?
I chose to make the video and put it on YouTube to help the people around me to understand. Not only that, but also to show the work of the Lord in my life, so that he might be glorified … that Christians would be more encouraged to live for him and so that more souls might be saved through my testimony if the Lord is able to use it that way.
What are you doing now?
I’m working as an electrician, full-time. And serving the Lord in my local church in primary school children’s ministry, gospel preaching ministries and a couple of other ministries. Also, I’m doing a part-time bible college course on spiritual growth once a week. But most importantly now, I’m just trying to focus on coming to know the Saviour more, in a personal and intimate relationship. I’m trying to get a good balance so I can spend more time in prayer and reading his Word. I’m also starting to help out younger rugby league players, like my brothers, and their teams … teach them some things I learnt when I was playing in the game, just to help them out and be a blessing to them.
You can watch Jeremy’s testimony here.
