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Celebrating the Success of Sean van Zijl: A Journey of Hard Work, Passion, and Dedication

Sean van Zijl, a first-year student at the Western Province International Rugby Institute (WPIRI), has made significant progress in his rugby career. His rugby career is a narrative of determination, hard effort, and continuous enthusiasm for the game. Sean’s journey from humble origins in Gauteng to climbing through the ranks at the Western Province International Rugby Institute (WPIRI) has been anything but easy, but that is precisely what makes it extraordinary.

Sean, who was born and raised in Gauteng, began playing rugby as a child, playing “Bulletjie Rugby” before starting school. His early years were spent at Hoërskool Transvalia, where he played enthusiastically, albeit from a position of obscurity. Sean relocated to Paarl Gimnasium in Grade 9, and despite it being one of South Africa’s rugby powerhouses, he did not instantly excel. “I played in the lower teams—the 3rd and 2nd sides—but I kept pushing,” he comments. It wasn’t until Grade 12 that he made the First Team, and even then, injuries kept him off the field for most of the season. Nonetheless, he was determined.

Sean joined WPIRI and found himself in an environment that changed his attitude to the game. “The entire development programme is different from what I learned in school. “It is more professional,” he says. The institute’s coaches, with their passion and persistent effort, pushed him to his limits. “They work so hard every day and weekend to help us improve as players. It’s not only about rugby. It’s about becoming who you want to be.” Sean flourished under pressure, learning how to manage his time and take control of his development.

He worked tirelessly, and it paid off. Sean was honoured to lead all three Academy teams, practice alongside the Villagers First Team, and finally receive the coveted Western Province U19 Currie Cup jersey, an experience he will never forget. “When I put on that WP jersey for the first time, I knew all my hard work had paid off. It struck me how privileged I am. That garment represented more than just triumph; it was confirmation that patience is important.”

Despite his accomplishments, Sean encountered hurdles that tested his resolve. Coming from a small school, he had to struggle his way up. “It’s challenging to begin at the bottom, but the mental difficulty is the greatest. You have to keep pushing yourself every day and completing the work, even when it is difficult.” He acknowledges it wasn’t always easy, but he saw each challenge as an opportunity to grow.

Sean van Zijl
His time at WPIRI was full of notable moments. Sean particularly recalls team walks, beach touch rugby, and bonding events with the coaches, who frequently participated, fostering a sense of camaraderie and motivation. “Training alongside others that have the same passion and desire makes it unique. It makes you want to be present.” These events honed both his skills and his character.

For Sean, rugby had far-reaching consequences. It taught him discipline, respect, and the value of maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle. “It’s not only about rugby. It’s about developing self-discipline, respecting yourself and others, and maintaining consistency in whatever you do.” These teachings helped him become a better person.

As his time at WPIRI comes to an end, Sean prepares for the next chapter. In 2025, he plans to study Quantity Surveying at Nelson Mandela University in Port Elizabeth while also competing in the Varsity Shield rugby tournament with the goal of making the Varsity Cup team. “I’ve always wanted to play for the Lions or the Bulls, and I hope to one day travel to Europe to play club rugby. But the ultimate dream is to wear the Springbok’s jersey.”

Sean feels that the keys to success are simple: respect, enthusiasm, and sincerity. “Respect yourself, your coach and your teammates. Play with enthusiasm – not for yourself, but for everyone around you and the logo on your jersey. Be yourself. Do not strive to be someone else. Your own abilities and enthusiasm will get you where you need to go. His advice to aspiring rugby players is simple yet profound: “Be yourself. If you don’t represent yourself authentically, if you don’t demonstrate your own abilities and passion, you won’t enjoy the sport – you’ll be wasting your time.” He emphasises authenticity and self-confidence as keys to success, urging young players to embrace their unique journey.

Sean feels grateful as he reflects on his journey. “I want to thank UXi and the WPIRI coaches, particularly Coach Anton and Warren. They trusted in me, and without them, I would not have had the opportunity to represent WP. His father agrees, expressing tremendous gratitude for the role WPIRI had in Sean’s growth as a player and as a person.

Sean van Zijl
Sean’s path from a small Gauteng school to captaining teams, playing for Western Province, and obtaining a bursary at Nelson Mandela University exemplifies how hard work and devotion can conquer any challenge. His narrative is one of perseverance, enthusiasm, and the conviction that anything is attainable if you are ready to fight for it.

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Time For Change!

In Primary School I didn’t have many friends; I was bullied for being overweight daily and was very demotivated and anti-social. When I got to High school, I decided to give rugby a try. The first few months were difficult, as training at the age of 13 years old whilst weighing 103kgs was extremely challenging for me.


Everything changed on my first GAME DAY! I started at Prop, and when I had my first run and contact with the ball, a spark ignited within me. I suddenly became more motivated, focused and determined to better myself and my body. I then decided within myself that IT WAS TIME FOR CHANGE.


My family was always by my side motivating and pushing me towards my goals, especially on those lazy days where I felt like doing nothing. After 7 months, I had lost 34 kgs and had my position moved to 8th man. Through the self confidence that came with feeling, looking and eating better, I was able to make lifelong friends and created a will to NEVER GIVE UP.


At the end of the day, all you can do is believe in yourself and try your best daily; surround yourself with positive people with similar interests and goals, and you will succeed more than you ever thought possible. I will always keep pushing and striving for better and better, to reach new heights!

Keagan Haumann

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How UXi Sport changed my life

The UXi Western Province Rugby Academy rugby programme really helped me a lot to develop as a young rugby player, in many ways! The Academy taught me the basic thing, which didn’t think was all that important in the rugby life; things like being disciplined, being on time for sessions or meetings -because these are the things that the coaches really take notice of. It also helped me to develop, not only as a player, but as a human being as well. There were times that I asked myself, “Am I ever going to get a chance to show case my talent at a higher level?”. However, by God’s Grace, l was one of the players that were recognized by the Western Province Coaches and was selected to be a part of the Western Province Rugby u/20 squad.

The UXi Western Province Rugby Academy will always be in my heart, because without it I don’t think that I would be at the current level that I’m at now. I was being coached by coaches that’s been in this game for decades! Coaches and ex-players like Coach Bolla “The Rock” Conradie (former Springbok), Coach Jason Hector, and Coach Warren Peterson, to name a few. I really enjoyed my time at the UXi Western Province Rugby Academy and I am SO thankful and proud to call myself a former WPRA student (WPRA 2021)!

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BECOMING A COACH

Becoming a coach was always a passion that I wanted to pursue. It was what drove me throughout high school. I was usually in leadership roles throughout my rugby playing career in school. I was always able to motivate people to perform and do better. Western Province Rugby Academy has given me the opportunity to realize my dream and finally step into my rugby coaching role, as opposed to being a player. In 2020, I was able to successfully do my World Rugby Level 1 in coaching. I finally had a glimpse of what was waiting for me in the future – I was so excited! I also was able to complete the World Rugby level 2 at the WPRA in 2020.

As of 2021, I started coaching at different schools, with the help of RSD, to build confidence as a coach. The first time I was able to coach was my most memorable moment ever, as I was able to see the improvement and the happiness in the players faces. That was when I knew that I was on the right track. I have been coaching rugby at Curro Hermanus for a few months, with the same group of players, and it was an amazing experience and inspiring to see the improvements over time. I hope to fulfill my goals and become a Provincial Coach or an International Coach, with the help of the

WPRA. I have crossed over to this new journey in my life: from a being a player to a coach and am now pursing my true passion. Thank you very much WPRA for the opportunity!

~ Henrique Coetzee

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Transformation

I was always a fat kid/person and was always very difficult to get fit and I was sure that I didn’t have what it takes to be like the success stories I read in magazines.

In 2018 I decided that is enough and I was looking at my health as wealth and got a coach (Dan Hurlin) that helped me and guided me along the first year or so.

2019 Mens Health approached me and asked if they can publish my one year transformation in their 2019 June addition and I obviously agreed because that was the magazine I always read for inspiration, and now I will be that story for someone else… I started my journey at 137kg or so and today I am a comfortable 95kg and don’t even diet, just live a healthy conscious life..

In my journey of 3 years now I had a slipped disc in my back and was hospitalise for 2 weeks and also couldn’t train for almost 3 months just rehab, also had a umbilical hernia operation.. So safe to say it was not a easy journey at all. BUT I kept on keeping on and believed that I can do this.

Everything is possible if you just believe you CAN.. control what you Can control and keep going , never give up!!

Transformation

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Hardus van der berg

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My Past doesn’t define me.

How is a young man without a family or permanent home inspiring residents of Cape Town’s leafy Southern Suburbs to reach their fitness goals? SIPHO NJENGEZI shared the story of his life, his fitness business and a community’s response with NANINE STEENKAMP

When I was born, my mother abandoned me in a hospital in Nelspruit. At three months, I was moved to a children’s home in Johannesburg run by the Salvation Army. At three years, I was fostered by a lady in Cape Town.  At 13, I was sent to Girls and Boys Town, a children’s home in Kenilworth. Living there, I often felt so sad not to have a family, but it nonetheless gave me skills and discipline for which I’m grateful. I attended church holiday clubs during this time at St Stephens Church in Claremont. I loved this because the church was like a family. At the age of 13, I decided to follow Jesus and accept God as my Father. Sometimes I struggle not to blame Him, but I feel I can talk to Him about everything. I know He understands me, that I just want to be happy and have a family, a goal that keeps me going.

I attended Claremont Primary School, where I played soccer and cricket. When I started playing rugby at 13, I was told I was particularly good at tackling. I had no fear and started to love and understand the sport. I played open side and blindside flank, and playing rugby distracted me from my painful background and made me feel good about myself. I then attended Batavia School of Skills until 2018 and I was head boy in my final year. Thereafter, I was offered a scholarship by Western Province Rugby Academy, and I was also assisted financially at this time by the children’s home and Anthea Eedes, my most recent foster mother.

That was a really good year for me. I got the opportunity to tour with a team to Argentina! I hoped the plane wouldn’t crash and be one of those stories on the news! But I wasn’t scared, it was just so awesome meeting different people and going to a new place. I stayed with a host family who were most welcoming and I got along well with the son who also played rugby. It was such an honour and I even learned a bit of Spanish. When I walked around, people would call out, ‘Siya Kolisi! Siya Kolisi!’ asking to take a photo with me. I’d love to give other people the privilege of this experience.

As part of the Western Province Rugby Academy programme, we were given the opportunity to take a personal training course through the Health and Fitness Professionals Academy. As an athlete, I was interested in personal training to understand what I was working on in my body.

Once the programme ended, I lived in a few places but still had no permanent home. When the first Covid-19 lockdown came, I ended up in the homeless shelter in Kalk Bay. I felt so tired of moving around. ‘When will I find a spot where I can just stay for a while?,’ I asked myself. Initially, I was accepted there for three months but it was extended because of lockdown. Going to the shelter was a decision: these people were now my brothers and my father and mother. I was going to love them. I told myself, ‘I have to use this opportunity’. I decided to trust people, not worrying about them stealing my phone or my clothes. It was a defining time for me and I had to ask myself: ‘Do I have grief about my family being here? Am I ashamed of being here?’ I chose to turn my difficulties into something positive.

I contacted Vusi, a mentor I had had at school, and he helped me register for a free six-month entrepreneurship course at the Entrepreneurship Leadership School in Cape Town. This course taught me a lot about leadership and uplifting myself, such as success being a choice. Everyone has problems and it’s our choice whether we navigate through them or not. Once lockdown was relaxed a little and we were allowed to go out for early morning exercise, I started stacking rocks to stay calm with the help of someone I’d met on the beach. I spotted a guy who was balancing big rocks on top of one another, and he agreed to teach me. I decided to make this part of my strength workout.

I did daily workouts at the Dalebrook tidal pool, where I met the Moodliar family, a YouTube influencer called Ben Brown and a lady called Laurianne Cloete who encouraged me to start a personal training business.I also met a photographer called Jenna, who asked me to train her, saying she got so much positive energy from me. I said, ‘Ok, tomorrow?’ She agreed and showed up, even though it was raining! Since then we’ve got to know one another very well. She’s helped me a lot with marketing my business and I call her ‘sister’! I have learnt so much from her. My business  helped me get to know people. A kind lady even invited me to stay for some weeks in her apartment in Clovelly and I house-sat a house for a while, then moved around to wherever I was offered accommodation. But I’m always careful to not take advantage of people’s hospitality.

Many people around me have helped and encouraged me not to feel bad about myself. One day I met a family on the beach who pointed me out to their kids, ‘Look at the strong guy!’ The fact that they recognised my talent motivated me. They invited me to church and I could ask them questions about God. One of them was: ‘Why has my life been like this?’ But then I hear an inner voice that says, ‘Sipho, it is what it is. It’s part of your past and don’t let it define you.’ This helps me move on and choose to grow in my relationship with God, rather than get stuck on what I don’t know. He knows what I’m going through.

I also received great support from the False Bay Rugby Football Club, who I knew from my rugby days. I currently play for their first team. Some people there encouraged me to pursue this business and believed in me from the start. Last year really didn’t unfold as I thought it would, but I’m glad about what’s happened. People keep encouraging me to keep going and it gives me motivation. Sometimes I work hard and after the session I’m sad, wishing I had a family. Couldn’t I too have had a childhood with a family who take care of one another and enjoy life together, having fun? But I understand we all come from different backgrounds and that is my situation. I have been through a lot of abandonment and rejection since I was a baby. I’ve had to accept that. It makes me wiser than others and I can relate to older people. Sometimes it’s hard to see families doing things together because I don’t have a permanent home.  I’m trying to sort my life out and not be discouraged with my situation.

All the support from the Kalk Bay community last year made me feel that others also believe in what I want to achieve. People seem happy to be part of my achievements. Together with my friends Laurianne and Sham, we organised my 21st birthday party and they and Anthea also helped me pay for it.

I’m driven because of my circumstances. It’s about how you push yourself through difficult circumstances to get where and who you want to be. I am already doing what I am loving. I am helping people and they are helping me. Even if you don’t believe in God, life is still about helping others believe in themselves, pursuing their dreams, isn’t it? In 2021, I started coaching rugby to youngsters at SACS Junior School in Newlands, as well as strength and conditioning to water polo players in Wynberg . This was organised through Sham, my friend. I’m currently renting an apartment in Wynberg and walk quite far to get to SACS because I want to avoid a Covid risk, but it doesn’t feel exhausting at all, I am so happy and it’s so great to be doing what I’m passionate about.

My dream is to become a professional rugby player and a rugby coach to impact youngsters by doing things differently and influencing them positively through sport. It would be amazing to play for a foreigner’s club in England, or perhaps even a provincial team or the Springboks! But it’s not about me, I’m already doing what I love: most of all I want others to grow.’

Story Provided by: ThisLife Online Magazine

~ Sipho Njengezi

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My Inspiration to Greatness

Greatness is not an exclusive feature, that only the talented people among us will ever get to experience. Greatness is something that truly exists in all of us, and if you work hard for it, you’ll achieve it without a doubt.

My name is Nkosi Mathe, and I’m currently attending the Pumas Rugby Institute. One would not think that a player who came from a small school would have ever gotten an opportunity like this; an opportunity to show off my talent and to get exposure. Throughout my life, I’ve been criticized about my size and height. I’ve been told that I am too small to play flank, and that I’m not heavy enough so I’d never succeed. However, I never took any of this negativity to hear. I knew what I wanted and what I had to do to achieve my goals – the Pumas Rugby Institute was where I knew I needed to be to make achieve the goals that I had set out for myself. My experience here at the Institute so far has been great! At first, I was nervous and unsure what to expect, because I had to move away from home. I thought I would be the only player that would have come from afar, but there were players that came from all over the country. That was a big comfort to me, knowing that I wasn’t alone in the experience. What amazed me about the other players is how we all became friends and brothers so quickly – I really think that I will grow tremendously with my fellow teammates.

The training here at the Pumas Rugby Institute is hectic, and there’s a huge difference when you compare it to 1st Team Rugby in High School. Here, we follow a high performance training programme, that really pushes you to the limits. We have experienced coaches that helps us all to grow as individuals, on and off of the field. I have learnt that I am able rise up and become the best version of myself, through this programme. I know that I am capable of achieving greatness, in sport and in life. I am thankful for this opportunity that the Lord has blessed me with, and I am grabbing it with both hands. I have crossed over to this new journey in my life and pursing what I love – and as long as I’m doing what I love, I’m happy.

~Nkosi Mathe

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Make other people feel and find your passion.

They say a name is just a name until you give meaning to it, no matter where you come from or what your history is, people remember them for how you made them feel.

My name is Rudi Visagie; I am a third year Sport Science student, a Regional Manager of a supplement retailer called AMPED Sport, and now a Strength and Conditioning intern at the UXI Western Province Rugby. Based on this and my appearance, one wouldn’t think that I come out of a troubled home: a home of domestic abuse, a home of mental abuse, a home without a father. A home of an alcoholic father, where every day he picks a drink, you fear for your mother’s and your own life. A house where you wonder where the next meal is going to come from. The list goes on. The question is instead, what did I do? I could have turned to the streets, gangs, fallen into addictions like drugs and alcohol, like so many of the youth.

My mother always told me, “do you want to be a VW Beatle or a Porsche?” This is an easy answer, but a Porsche is a hard thing to be. I decided then and there that I wasn’t going to let my circumstances define me, and I knew that I was destined for greater that the situation I found myself in. I had to make that choice for myself that I was going to make the choice to crossover to a better future, so that I could become the best version of myself that I could possibly become – but I knew that it wasn’t going to be easy.  I was never an over-achiever at school level; I was fat, obese and was bullied – but I changed that. I put in the work, day in and day out; while everyone else went out partying, I went to the gym to learn, to grow and to use it as a way to deal with my mental issues. The discipline of going to the gym also made me work harder in school and gave me a routine to stick to between school and gym. I also began playing rugby, where I played for the First team from grade 11, right through until Matric; I also wanted to try and understand the different training styles, to increase my knowledge and application towards certain types of training.

As the years went by, I manged to build a body for myself that many admired, and I started helping my friends in the gym and that’s where my passion started for helping others – in a way, I was able to give back, and what goes around comes around. This is also the reason why I went on to study Personal Training, and then moved into the world of Sport Science, as helping others achieve their goals makes me happy. To end of I refer to my first paragraph – it isn’t who you are or where you come from that defines you, it’s the way you make other people feel and finding your passion.

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The Greatest Gift

They say that the greatest gift you can ever give someone is your time, because it’s something that you can never get back. This reign true when I think of the time, I had with UXI. UXI gave me time in helping me continue doing the work I loved, and it was a priceless gift I received in my rugby career, it helped me refocus on what was important in life, and for that I will always be grateful. UXI picked me up when I needed it the most, lifted me up, and gave me the opportunity to develop and crossover to the largest and most successful Rugby Union in the country, the Blue Bulls.

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