In 1983 he toured New Zealand with the British and Irish Lions whilst playing for London Welsh RFC.

[4] He also played rugby league, turning professional on 13 April 1986 when he signed for Whitehaven in Cumbria.

He went on to play for Leeds, Carlisle, and finished his rugby league at Salford in 1993.

In 2012, Ackerman taught Physical Education at St Patrick's College, Silverstream, New Zealand.

[5] He moved to live and work in Melbourne in February 2017, as the Director of Coaching for Rugby at Haileybury College, and is currently a Casual Relief Teacher in Regional Victoria, Australia.