American rugby players inspired by South African culture

From left to right: Scott Ciamarichello, Maxwell Saenz, Josh Butler, and Howie Heller

Four American exchange students find themselves entrenched in a new and unique rugby culture – one of the most popular sports in South Africa – as part of an exchange programme at UXi International Rugby Institutes in Stellenbosch. The players, who have all been inspired by the National team, in Green and Gold,  offered insight into their experiences and reflections since landing in Cape Town.

A pivotal learning for them has been how mistakes and losses are being managed. This has left an indelible mark on Josh Butler (23), Howie Heller (18), Maxwell Saenz (20), and Scott Ciamarichello (20).

The resilience of the rugby teams in South Africa is applaudable, going back to the first time  François Pienaar lifted the Webb Ellis trophy in 1995 to what everyone witnessed and experienced with the Springboks’ journey since then. This resilience is also tangible in the semi-professional club structures of a typical rugby union within the South African rugby union landscape.  

The quartet finds the experience of being part of a South African rugby programme very inspiring, making notable mentions of how everyone uplifts, motivates, and inspires each other despite race, colour, or creed. Despite the brief time, they have been inspired and have learnt more than they thought they would after just a few weeks of training. This has been their experience at UXi Sport.

Sports can transcend culture and language barriers, the four have been offered some informal language lessons as well. We have seen how rugby has brought together a diverse team with a Black captain during the world cup final, a team that has learnt 2023 rugby Australia and New Zealand teams some valuable lessons.  This has inspired not only American rugby, but the world over, through inspiring storytelling as was seen in the documentary series, Chasing The Sun.

Rugby in South Africa has so much to offer to USA rugby from a rugby development perspective and one of the most effective ways to do this is through these exchange program initiations. 

Let us get to know the American quartet and why the American players are inspired….

Josh Butler, University of San Diego, California

Butler, who has been playing rugby for just one year, is relishing the opportunity to gain experience and grow while in South Africa. He has had the chance to play multiple positions, transitioning from number eight back in San Diego to winger and inside centre while at UXi.

“The experience is awesome,” he said. “The camaraderie and all the people are so welcoming. The [South African rugby] culture is very good and strong, which is something we are not used to. Everyone is just incredibly positive every day, I like that.”

Howie Heller, Atlanta, Georgia

Heller, who plays for West Point, has been particularly struck by the passion and camaraderie of his South African teammates. The high-energy environment, where players support and motivate each other intensely was evident to him.

“Everybody’s super passionate about the game,” he observed. “In the training session yesterday, I would say one of the differences I’ve noticed is one, everybody’s super skilled, and two, everybody’s having fun with everyone, smiling, just playing rugby with their friends.”

Maxwell Saenz, University of San Diego, California

For Saenz, the fast-paced and unpredictable nature of South African rugby has been a thrilling adjustment. “It is quick, but it is also chaotic,” he explained. “There are a lot more big hits [than what we are used to], knock-ons, and penalties. You do not know what is going to happen. This is great and I love it.”

Maxwell highlighted the keen sense of unity and team spirit, saying, “No matter how good or how bad you play, you always want to get a win. It is not glory hunting or anything – you are just trying to win.”

Scott Ciamarichello, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Ciamarichello, who plays for the Green Bay Celtics, has found the transition to South African rugby culture to be a positive experience. “Here it is easier because more than one coach is helping you with your development,” he said. He also appreciated the welcoming nature of his South African teammates and their willingness to teach him unfamiliar words and phrases.

“The boys here have been really helpful with that and teaching us some words here and there,” he added, mentioning local terms like “dankie,” “lekker,” and “mooi.”

Embracing the Culture and Learning

The players have been quick to embrace the cultural differences and learn from their South African counterparts. Cramarichello mentioned that the language barrier and cultural differences have not been significant issues, thanks to the friendly and helpful nature of the local players.

Long-lasting Impact

Each player plans to take back valuable lessons and experiences to their respective teams in the United States. Heller emphasised the importance of speed and aggression in the game, which he plans to incorporate back home.

“Everything here is super impressive. The coaches enforce that a lot,” he said. “[I will] try to take back some of the culture and the acceptant approach, and I think our rugby IQ has improved.”

Saenz shared a similar sentiment, noting the confidence he has gained from playing at UXi. “I think the culture and the skills [has been great learning] but also I feel like I found this sort of confidence from all the games and you kind of get a chance to shine almost. You get to make it happen for yourself,” he said.

A Life-changing Opportunity

The exchange program was highly recommended by their coaches who incidentally are from the Eastern Cape, who described it as a life-changing opportunity. Butler, who has only been playing rugby for a year, expressed his eagerness to make the most of this experience.

“I have only played one year so I kind of got to make up for all the years that I did not play. Get as much in as possible.”

Future Aspirations

When not on the rugby field, these students are pursuing diverse career paths. Butler is studying real estate and business, Saenz is interested in geography and economics, Heller is undergoing military training at West Point, and Cramarichello aspires to become a lawyer.

The American players at UXi Sport and Rugby Academy are not only honing their rugby skills but also embracing the rich culture and camaraderie that South African rugby offers. Their experiences are sure to leave a lasting impact, both on their personal growth and their future rugby careers. They have formed lifelong friendships and have become part of the rugby network in South Africa, 

Credits: UXi Rugby International Rugby Institute’s website is powered by the beautiful and sincere testimonies of international rugby exchange players over the past five years, and wish to thank all contributors of these testimonials in particular America rugby.