Archive for category: News

“Memory looks back in order to move forward” ~ Marty Rubin

In today’s high-achieving and fast-paced society, we impatiently race ahead to the next challenge before the dust can even settle on the previous one. Whilst we often convince ourselves that we are “living in the moment”, we’re generally telling ourselves “it’s time to move” and pushing forwards towards the future. In our burning desire to move full force into the future, we tend to associate the act of “looking back” with a negative connotation.

While the rear view window seems less exciting and less important than the windscreen in front of you, your rear view window is absolutely vital! If you don’t use the present moment sensibly and pay attention to what is behind you, you can quite easily find yourself caught up in a major accident. As is such in life: often we need to take a step back from our daily routines and spend time acknowledging just how far we’ve truly come. 

Now as you’re reading this article, I want you to stop and analyze. I want you to think about who you were 3 years ago. How old were you? What did your daily life look like back then? What was your biggest worry or fear? What were you dreaming to achieve? Answer these questions for yourself. Now, I want you to think about your life right at this very moment, and compare the two. Did you achieve the goals that you set out for yourself, or are you mourning for the past worries you once had? Are you proud of who you’ve become?

A year ago, you were possibly sitting down to study for your Class 12 Physics exam, trying to figure out how a “moving coil galvanometer” works, not ever imagining that you may be in a Junior Rugby Union team right now. Or a few months ago, you were maybe only able to leg press 80kgs in your local small-town gym, and now you’re leg pressing 80kgs as your warm up in a UXi High Performance super gym! Or this time a few years ago, you were possibly going through one of the toughest times in your life, that you felt you’d never get through, but here you are today, stronger than ever. We could go on about the number of turns that time has created in our lives; nevertheless, when we look back at our past, no matter how long ago, different or difficult it was, we are able to reflect on how we have grown as individuals.

On the flip side, whilst the view out of the windscreen may be exhilarating, there is an undeniable danger in trying to look beyond what you can clearly see. When we drive, we don’t focus on the road that’s a kilometer away; that would be pointless and dangerous. We focus on the road in front of us right now. In today’s society, there is an unwavering amount of pressure put on young people to have their entire lives figured out overnight, and know each move they’re going to make at each moment in their lives; constantly trying to be years ahead of the present. More often than not, our minds are plagued by future or anticipated trouble that we feel like we need to try and control. 

Maybe you’re worrying about sustaining an injury in one of your rugby matches, and thinking “what impact will that have on the rest of my life going forwards”. Or perhaps you’re worried what your future may look like if you don’t get selected for that u/20 squad or earn that University bursary – what then? “If I don’t achieve X, then that means Y will happen”; the “what if’s” and ”should haves” are exhausting, right? At the end of the day, the only hindrance greater than refusing to acknowledge the lessons of the past, is worrying too much about the uncontrollable future.

Now I know what you’re thinking…between appreciating the past and not getting so caught up in the future, when did living in the present get so complex? It’s mentally and physically draining! So what do we do? The power is the principle of practicing mindfulness and taking comfort in the act of moving forwards throughout your day “one step at a time”. The past has gone – learn and grow from it. The future is going to come regardless – worrying about it now won’t change it. All we have is right now – use the present moment wisely and earnestly. Simply apply the principle of moving forward.

The secret to health for both mind and body, in perfect balance, is the carrying coil of wellness. Remember, the body is not to mourn its past mistakes, but be in a position of health and celebrate the future.

How to find your way into the prestigious Blue Bulls club league.

Many school boys  dream of pulling a Blue Bulls jersey over their heads one day!

Is this an impossible dream or is there a pathway no matter where you come from? 

The Blue Bulls top high schools are most certainly some of the strongest in South Africa and even school colleges in the world. South Africa is blessed with an abundance of top rugby schools hosting not only the greatest talent, but top quality coaching staff and systems that can compare to those at the top Rugby Unions in the country.

The recent international tours to South Africa from schools abroad and clubs, whether European or USA rugby teams, have been complimentary to the physical ability of players in South Africa at Under 19 and 20.  The recent success of the Junior Bokke in their overseas tournaments have also displayed the strength of the rugby quality in the top rugby schools in South Africa.

It is a fact that not every rugby player will get an opportunity to join a professional rugby side directly after school, but the good news is that there is HOPE if a player possesses the talent to develop and improve. For this a reputable higher performance program is required that focuses on the individual player development needs. A dedicated high performance program that also focuses on the strength and conditioning of the athlete for position specific requirements, all in an effort to get the player stronger, fitter and through skills development smarter in his position of play. 

A program that can assist a player to reach his or her full potential and make a significant difference in his game of rugby. Competing in a top South African rugby league such as the Western Province and Blue Bulls Pretoria is one of the best development opportunities a player can ask for when attending a high performance program. The club leagues are strong and can put the newly developed skills and techniques to the test. 

The one thing that many players don’t comprehend when asked about the benefits of a rugby academy or institute,  is that  in an academy or institute program players are coached to win, whereas,at the Club or Union they coach the team to win! Once you arrive at these training sessions you must already possess the competitive skills and techniques to obtain a position in the team. The focus is not on the player’s ability to improve whatever skills they lack, the focus is on the player’s unique skills and ability to contribute to the TEAM’s strategy to win a match or tournament.

Whether the player strive to get better to play international rugby in the United States or have an opportunity to be noticed by his favorite South African Franchise, rugby academies, reputable SA  rugby Institutes such as UXI RI or IRI (Naka Bulls), can through a national development program, and with hard work and dedication from the players, get  a player to his/her highest level of competition, and to play rugby of the highest standard. 

UXI International Rugby programs are designed to improve and develop both players and coaches. The Institutes allow for an easy transition from player development to coaches development as a career choice that opens the doors to many opportunities. 

UXI Sport will have a footprint in Blue Bulls rugby in the near future with its new planned Institute at Harlequins Rugby Club. An international brand that will also allow for exchange opportunities for our players nationally. 

More announcements to follow soon!

UXI INTERNATIONAL RUGBY INSTITUTES RESPOND

I recently read an article of a once brilliant rugby player who was fortunate to land a rugby contract immediately after school, but now lives in a tiny backyard room of his family’s humble home.

Then my journey started to research the success rate of post rugby career professionals in life after their careers and or contracts came to an end. The results were shocking to discover how many junior contracted players dropped out of rugby within the 1st 3 years of receiving them. The sad reality is that a very small percentage of these drop-outs had any other skill sets to provide employment for them after their opportunities in rugby ended.

Due to the covid-19 crisis, South Africa’s sports industry was one of the hardest hit and the long term effects will take years to recover.

However a poverty pandemic in sport was already present before covid played a role, when analyzing evidence based research of once contracted player athletes then to where they are in the present day, who is to blame?

Is it the Unions with an absence of player support programmes such as life-skills and player wellness in elite sport? Or does the career guidance and counseling offered in the classrooms and on field at school fail our youth? Maybe it is the parent’s who are also ignorant in understanding the realities and risks of professional rugby and contract at all cost attitudes, and that a 10 year or longer career with millions of rand contracts per annum is only a reality for less than 1% of all players.

No one ever thinks of lifelong medical costs and mental health. The temptation to soar high with lucrative junior contracts and invest in temporary luxury such as clothing, cars, jewelry and holidays often outweighs smart choices such as investing in skills acquisition, and saving for retirement and or investing wisely. The fact remains that it becomes a vicious circle that in many cases has a domino effect on more than one life or family.

The truth is that there is an increasing demand for qualified rugby coaches at all levels of junior and senior rugby in South Africa in every province,  as well as for video and game analysts and Rugby specific strength and conditioning coaches. Most top rugby schools are now running their rugby departments as professional units so this in itself is creating job opportunities everywhere. 

Love or hate the Springbok, South Africa is also known as one of the top ranking rugby nations in the world and most developing rugby countries want to learn from us. UXI Rugby Institutes have placed a number of players in international coaching roles, and with its new Coaching Career programs will offer aspirant young coaches the opportunity to learn from some of  the best coaches in the industry, whilst job shadowing, being mentored by them and receiving work placement to build up the required hours for World Rugby Level 2 Coach as well as a National Certificate in Coaching, whilst also earning a salary. 

Marketing and business knowledge in sport can create various opportunities in sport but also offers valuable knowledge in managing your own name as a brand in sport. All players in the high performance program are encouraged to study the IMM express programs that is short, impactful and packed with the fundamentals of branding and marketing of a brand.

In so doing UXI International Rugby Institutes are not just taking a player not afforded any opportunities in contract and bursary models elsewhere to real opportunities on-field but mostly creating in each individual a true champion for life!

Close your eyes, take a deep breath and let your mind paint a picture: the sun setting over the African sky; a sold-out Mbombela Stadium; chanting rugby fans; electrifying fireworks and smoke machines exploding with excitement; a hair-raising rendition of the “Nkosi Sikelel’ iAfrika”; 30 pairs of professional rugby togs bolting up, down and across the field. This is the enthralling scene for the much-anticipated United Rugby Championship Test Match: Springboks vs All Blacks. The first meeting of two matches, kicking off at Mbombela Stadium and Ellis Park respectively. 

It’s not everyday that you get to sit and watch one of the greatest all-time rivalries in World Rugby – in fact, it is nothing less than a privilege. The historic rivalry between the South African and New Zealand sides has stood the test of time; a rivalry which has mainly been dominated by the New Zealanders. Nevertheless, this Mbombela magical showdown served as the 102nd match between these two sporting powerhouses.

The one thing to remember about South Africa is that, as a nation, WE LOVE RUGBY. No composition of words that can quite accurately describe the electricity felt in the air when a rugby match kicks off, whether it’s a school match, club match or National Championship! Every South African can remember the 2019 Rugby World Cup final – the undeniable sense of hope and adrenaline that was felt all around us. Regardless if they were die-hard rugby supporters or not, on RWC Finals day everyone whipped out their Springbok jerseys (or any green shirt that they could find), and UNITED as ONE NATION for 80 minutes.

UXi Sport and its national Rugby Institutes are no stranger to the love and excitement felt towards rugby. It was an honour for us, as UXi Sport, to host over 40 rugby, sporting and corporate VIPs to our UXi Sport Suite in Mbombela Stadium, to witness the Springbok-All Blacks clash. Filled with food, drinks and an atmosphere like no other, the UXi Sport Suite was the place to be on Saturday the 6th of August. On a day-to-day basis, this VIP Suite is actually home to the UXi Pumas Rugby Institute, and is their official Student and Education Hub. With the most enchanting view of the field and stadium, it’s easy to see why the UXi Pumas Rugby Institute students never want to leave “campus”!

The match itself was a spectacle on its own, which made for quality entertainment; there is no denying that both teams put it all out on the line during this contest. Despite Ian Foster’s increase in pressure and an All Black squad spice-up, the Springboks were ready to rise to the physical challenge – no matter what it took. It is impossible to forget Faf de Klerk’s brutal knockout by Caleb Clarke within the first few seconds, Handre Pollard’s flawless kicking boot, and Jaden Hendrikse, Damian Willemse and Willie Le Roux leaping into the arms of adoring fans. No one can deny that the Springboks were on top form. Even though the All Blacks were able to squeak in some points, thanks to the likes of Jordie Barrett and Shannon Frizell, the “full package” Springbok side (as described by All Blacks captain, Sam Cane) were too good for the New Zealanders, and claimed a 26-10 victory. 

To make this match even more iconic, one of our own Institute successes, Kurt-Lee Arendse (UXi Western Province Rugby Academy 2016), was in the starting Springbok line-up. Despite his horrific aerial collision with Beauden Barrett, Kurt-Lee had a tremendous game; giving the students in the UXi Sport Rugby Institutes an increased sense of hope. They know that they are on the right path, and they too can follow in the same footsteps as Kurt-Lee. The UXi Rugby Institutes give hope to those young boys who maybe didn’t get selection for the SA Schools Teams, or didn’t get that Union contract straight out of school. Kurt-Lee didn’t, and now he is playing at the highest level of rugby possible, using the UXi Western Province Rugby Academy as his first step. Further, eight of our UXi Pumas Rugby Institute students were given the opportunity to be the official Test Match ball boys – this was truly a life-changing experience. Can you imagine how indescribable it must be as a 20 year old aspirant-rugby professional to share an International Rugby field with two of the greatest teams in the history of the sport? Standing alongside Malcolm Marx as he cleans the ball before he takes a lineout – it is a moment that these students will remember forever.

Echoing the words of the late President Nelson Mandela, sport has “the power to unite people in a way that little else does.” Sport has this incredible ability to break barriers between people, and bring a country together. Sport emphasizes the opportunities that are available in the world, and provide a pillar of hope to the youth of our nation. Sport unites; sport inspires; sport CHANGES THE WORLD.

How to “love and to hold” your love for Rugby

A future awaits: Rugby Careers

Someone once said that there is a lot to learn about LIFE from a rear view mirror and a windscreen of a vehicle. There is a very good reason why the rear view mirror is so much smaller than the front windscreen- It is because the future has so much more to offer than always staring/looking back at the past!

Many rugby player careers have been brought to a halt, sometimes unexpectedly and unforeseen due to injury, and sometimes just because of time moving on and life that happens with its set pieces that have to be realigned. With great disappointment or no plan B, many players have no future to look forward to.

It is not necessary to give up the Love of your Life, for Life, there are many high in demand careers that can be followed that you can pursue not only in the pre season of your career as a rugby player, but also in the postseason.

So instead of staring back at what was, the greatest thing you have is to learn from the experience and move forward towards an even greater future with a career in the sports code you love!

Your days off-field as a player can be just as rewarding as on-field. The real ball carriers of the game are the qualified and inspirational coaches that bring with them unique styles and philosophies! In South Africa especially, the need for coaches that have practical and theoretical accredited training through World Rugby reputable coach educators are on the rise.

To be a Coach in a rainbow nation where players are as diverse as opponents are, requires remarkable skill. But then, there are so much power in diversity if one knows where to look!

The older generation teachers that used to exit University or Teaching Colleges with a sports education background with human movement science, in one or two sport codes, are already approaching retirement or have retired already. The terms and conditions have changed, and the new generation teacher is under no obligation to practise a sport or become a sports coach at primary or high school levels. As such, many Coaching positions are filled by the Governing Bodies of schools externally at very competitive salaries.

The great news is that this has opened a special sector for employment in South Africa.

These individuals also step up as sports team managers, sports organisers, and/or sports directors at the top rugby and sports schools in South Africa. Many lower tiered schools are poorly resourced and in need of professional sports and coaching expertise!

Conditioning for rugby has become a scarce skill too, with very few “field-wise” strength and conditioning coaches.

Studying Sports Science and or Exercise science is one thing, but it is only through experience in the code that you are taught the rugby specific strength, training and conditioning that is unique to rugby training. Developing full body training programs with different rep ranges, top sets, within a team training environment, when players hit the gym, are as challenging as it is rewarding! To drive players to train harder and support players with specific development needs, nutrition and wellness right through to their final set truly requires special skills!

The game of rugby is ever evolving, faster and furious than ever before, more emphasis are placed on technology driven coaching, rugby position development with expertise rugby fitness instruction to manage the training loads, return to play and injury prevention.

The World needs Rugby coaches such as Rassie Erasmus, Steven Hansen, Eddie Jones and Joe Schimdt, this could be you, if you dare to dream further than the try line!

Imagine a program where you can become the next generation coach, rugby fitness instructor, strength and conditioning coach, sports organiser, team manager or video and game analyst?

Turn your player past into the future for many aspiring players! UXI Rugby institutes are the Varsity of Rugby Careers. All programs are packed with national education programs, international relevancy, workplace experience and placement.