IN THE EYE OF THE STORM

The Lessons in life that rugby teaches

The nail-biting game between the national team, the Springboks,and Ireland on the 13th of July 2024, and the first defeat the Springboks have suffered in five international games, most definitely placed the spotlight on feelings of disappointment and regret. Not only for the Springbok players, but also for coaches and spectators alike.

The game of rugby can bring many challenges for any player, whether on school level, semi-professional or professional level. Disappointments are a given with the highly physical and strenuous game of great South African Springbok rugby.

Injuries are a reality and no one in a team of players are immune to it. Handling mistakes or wrong decision making can cost a side their game, or as Hanre Pollard showed us in the previous match, that an off-day in kicking can do the same. Then there is the disappointments that come with rugby teams selection, one can imagine that with the abundance of talent in South Africa Springbok coaches are spoiled for choice in their depth. To remain at the top of your game as an international professional player, does not mean that you have arrived. In fact, that is when the hard work, sacrifice really start to remain at the top of your game.

Life is very much the same, it is a constant battle to remain employed or in a senior accountable position. There is constantly new talent being hired by organisations, even higher qualified and experienced than yourself. Often someone working much longer for an organization than a newer employee gets overseen for promotions, and they have to make way for the younger talent.

 How interesting is it that sport teaches us the realities of life before we even begin our careers elsewhere? Disappointment in any career is a given, whether it is because of that promotion that was not secured, or the last performance management review. Sport has a way of teaching us to become mentally stronger to accept and work through disappointment, no matter how difficult it is. A sport like professional rugby showcases that even heroes can fall and have an “off day”.

But here are some more interesting life lessons we take from rugby;

1. The hard hits in the game remind us that there will be hard hits in life when you least expect it, however you need to get up from them, as the game (life) must carry on. If you remain down, they will carry you off on a stretcher and substitute you.
2. Sometimes during the game there are some “cheap shots” that someone takes at you, that you never saw coming. In life there will be people who will try to put you down and take shots at you with unkind words and actions. Just as it happens in sport for various reasons, the same happens in life for those exact same reasons. Don’t let anyone but you, be the author of your life!
3. Show up, work hard in training, go the extra mile to get selected for your dream team. Pursuing a career is no different, as you need to show up at work every day, earlier than anyone else, working harder and longer hours than anyone else to stand out in the working crowd, and get noticed for the “dream position or job” you are aiming for.
4. Rugby teaches you respect for those in positions of authority , whether it is the coaches or the referee, we learn how to be obedient to the rules of the game and the game plan.
5. Team selection disappointment is a testimony that almost every Springbok can speak about, whether in their professional or younger careers these disappointments inspired them to work harder to beat the odds,and reach their glory day!
6. Not being selected for a promotion initially, could simply mean that you are not experienced enough as yet, or there are more skills you need to acquire to become better as a player,and as such strive to become better, smarter and be more determined!

Takeaways- when you feel like giving up!

1. The most difficult challenges in life or on the rugby field, often comes before the greatest breakthroughs, as such carry on playing your best game- the gap (opportunity) will come!
2. Don’t let people define who you are nor your purpose in life- you can become anything in life you put your mind to, however there will always be someone that will not like you for whatever reason but,  JUST PLAY ON!
3. We must get up from tough times, heartbreak and disappointment in life- just as we have to get up from hard tackles and play the game through the pain, because life waits for no one!
4. Not everyone is born with mental toughness and grit, these are qualities often taught by disciplined and structured daily training and cultivating the habits of a winner!
5. Remember that in the end we are human, we can make mistakes, take our eye off the ball and be distracted by noise, however,  it is not about the mistake you make when playing rugby- it is how you bounce back from it,and then try harder the next time.

UXi International Rugby Institutes recognizes the true power of sport in their programme in rugby professional development, and the lessons of life that the game teaches. It is for this reason too, that it has developed a QCTO accredited Life Skills program that is offered during their one- year High Performance development program. This program brings the values and lessons of rugby into context with the realities of life, work-readiness, communication, self-awareness and barriers to performance, to name a few of these life-changing topics. Most importantly UXi and its coaching teams also recognize that it is important for players to work on a career after rugby early on, as disappointment in the form of injury or other set-backs will become easier if the player has a plan B to fall back onto. 

Should a player not progress onto one of the South African national teams, he will leave the Institutes after twelve months as a holistically developed individual, ready to step into life and the many challenges it brings with wonderful friendships formed and a meaningful rugby network that will stand the test of time.

The inspiring documentary of the Springboks who have won two consecutive rugby world cups, and the testimonies shared by their head coach and director of rugby, Rassie Erasmus, who has been recognized for his exceptional high performance leadership, tells many stories of lessons learned and journeys traveled. Chasing the Sun inspires not only SA rugby players from Cape Town to the United States, but worldwide their story brings hope and teaches valuable lessons!