He said: "At the time I was signed to the academy, so I was literally one step away from playing first team rugby on Sky Sports Super League.
“I was in the Salford Academy, and I kind of just got bored of playing rugby, like I never loved the sport.
HAIDER KHAN looked set for a career playing rugby league - now he is out to become MMA world champion with the help of a boxing legend.
"I was just good at the sport and I enjoyed playing it, but it wasn't like an obsession like I have with martial arts.
But by 18, he fell out of love with the sport he had played since five years old and instead found a new passion in martial arts.
