If you have a dream, don’t be deterred by anything
RESPECT, humility, a work ethic, pride and teamwork.
These are the personality traits suited to a professional rugby player and if one feels one doesn’t exactly fit the profile, dream on.
“If you have a dream, no matter what that is, never be deterred by any factors that you feel will limit you,” Sharks spokesperson Novashni Chetty advised this week.
“Nothing beats hard work and the will to succeed,” she said.
“If you can dream it, you can achieve it.”
She said the challenges future professional rugby players would need to handle included dealing with different personalities, failure, success, being in the limelight and suffering injuries.
“They are all part of the game,” she said.
While at school, it is advisable to get as much coaching as one needs.
Chetty said conditioning, skill work and a strong work ethic would go a long way towards getting ahead, as would developing oneself in other sports, including playing them.
“The more talented, hardworking and versatile players are, the more opportunity they have to succeed.
“For those who don’t make it on their dream team, there are other rugby-related careers.
“Not everyone will make it to the field of play, but if rugby or any sport is your passion there are numerous careers that you can follow to work within a sports environment.”
Those include becoming a medical doctor, a physiotherapist, a biokineticist, a referee, a coach or a technical analyst.
It could also involve going into sport-related human resources, finance, marketing or becoming involved in media and communication.
For those who end up on the field – where age catches up on one more quickly – an academic backing is always encouraged, Chetty said.
“This is in preparation for not only managing their responsibilities during their career but most importantly, for life after rugby,” she said.