After seven years playing for Exeter Chiefs, professional rugby star Chris Bentley is lined up to take up a new role in a rather different field at his home ground, Sandy Park.

The 32-year old lock, who will play his last match with the Aviva Premiership club at the end of May, is set to swap his strip for a business suit, having been appointed as the Chiefs' new commercial sales executive.

He will be working to secure matchday sponsorships and also boost the club's corporate entertainment business.

Mr Bentley, who has a philosophy degree from Liverpool University, where he also studied for diplomas in marketing, is already gearing up for his new role in the office on his days off.

"You want to play rugby forever," he said. "I love rugby and the Chiefs and if I can't play for them, then I can sell them. This job is ideal for me."

Mr Bentley won the job after a "gruelling" interview process conducted by the club's chief executive Tony Rowe.

Yet the elite sportsman had already begun his own training regimen, to shape himself up for a business career.

He said: "I was getting myself about in the local business community and have become close friends with some sponsors of the club who acted as mentors.

"I spent a lot of time with them, especially at learning the business of doing business."

He credits Ian Dunston of Cobalt Computers and Faye Allyn Small at ALS Motors for their business support, saying: "I've never been much of a PlayStation ninja, which is how many other players like to spend their time.

"There are actually many transferable skills from elite-level sport to business, including an eye for detail and what the opposition is doing."

His training continued at home with wife, Hayley, the qualifications and funding manager at Flybe, who was instrumental in getting its training academy off the ground.

"She's been teaching me Excel – and I'm now a whizz at it," Mr Bentley said.

He added that the news took time to "settle in," when he was told this season's playing contract would be his last with the club. Focused on the new task ahead, however, he has been devoting his days off to training for his new role in the office on a 9-5 basis.

Mr Bentley's appointment coincides as the Chiefs enter a new phase of growth. The member-owned club has approved outline plans for a seven-year development, to include the expansion of its 10,500-seater Sandy Park Stadium to 22,000 seats.

Plans also include additional on-site conferencing facilities to support the club's increased focus upon match-day corporate hospitality and "even closer interaction" with companies and sponsors from across the Westcountry.

The estimated £25 million cost of the development will partly be financed through the club's own profits and partly through selling shares in the club to supporters and other investors.

John Wood, who heads up the club's corporate department, said: "Given the ambitious plans for the club over the next few years, it was important that we selected the right person that would be able to grow with the role.

"Chris is known by everyone associated with the club for his likeable persona and his sense of humour. However, it was abundantly clear during the interview process that he also had the necessary business acumen and intelligence that the role will demand.

"We see Chris coming on board as an excellent addition to our team and we are confident he can play a key role in helping drive the club forward commercially in the coming years."