I’ve never before known resilience like the NHS staff are showing now – it is so humbling
The iconic Welsh centre has seen the coronavirus fight close up as a volunteer for Cardiff and Vale Trust. He talks to NEIL SQUIRES about the experience and his rugby future at the age of 33.
QHOW DID YOU END UP BEING A COVID-19 CORRESPONDENT ON THE FRONT LINE?
AI was twiddling my thumbs a bit. I wasn’t going to be playing rugby any time soon, I was sat on a medical degree, I’m just finishing a Masters in medical science as well and I felt it was only right that I help. We looked at clinical work but that wasn’t achievable, having been out of medicine clinically for seven years, so I ended up joining the health board in a role for the communications team.
QYOUR BLOG WAS READ BY MORE THAN 50,000 PEOPLE. HOW TOUGH WAS IT TO WRITE?
ATo try to tell the story was emotionally difficult. Being able to combine accurate information with empathy was the most challenging part. I spent an hour and a half writing a piece on critical care, got two thirds of the way through and I read it back to myself through the eyes of someone who may have lost someone and I deleted it all. I started again. It had good feedback in the end.
QWHAT WERE YOUR LASTING IMPRESSIONS OF THE NHS WORKERS YOU WITNESSED IN ACTION?
AI’ve not seen a level of resilience like it in my life. We talk about resilience quite a bit in sport – in rugby it’s about showing it to bounce back after you lose a game or have an injury – but this really put resilience in perspective. There were intensive care nurses who potentially couldn’t go to work because the damage to the skin on their noses from the masks was so bad after 13-hour shifts. They were doing everything in their power to help their patients. It was humbling. I know we clap them on a Thursday but they deserve so much more than that.
QYOU ARE BACK IN LONDON NOW WORKING ON YOUR MASTERS IN BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION. HOW IS THE RUGBY SITUATION LOOKING?
AMy original contract with the Stormers was from January until June so it is highly unlikely I will be able to get back out to South Africa. I’m out of contract post-June. I feel fit, I was enjoying my rugby before the lockdown and playing some really good stuff and I’m keen to play for another few years. I’m open. I’d love the idea of finishing my career at home where it started in Cardiff but the appeal of being abroad and experiencing something new is attractive. We’ll see what opportunities are out there.
QNOT MANY EUROPEANS GET TO PLAY SUPER RUGBY. HOW DID YOU FIND IT IN CAPE TOWN?
ANewlands was just magical. I’m a bit of a rugby traditionalist and romantic, and that old-school smell of the changing rooms and the wood panelling as you’re coming out of the tunnel and the jerseys on the wall makes you feel like you’re part of history. It’s such a shame they are going to knock it down. Going there was a chance to broaden my understanding of the game and to experience a different style which tested my skill set and fitness. I really enjoyed it even though I only played five Super Rugby games. The most disappointing thing was that I never got to travel. We were meant to go away on a five-week stint at the end of April to New Zealand, Australia and Japan and I was hugely looking forward to that.
QHAVING PLAYED IN BOTH HEMISPHERES WHAT SORT OF A BREAKTHROUGH WOULD IT BE FOR RUGBY TO USE THIS SPACE TO CREATE THE ELUSIVE GLOBAL SEASON?
ARugby is at a very important crossroads. We have a chance to make changes for the good of the game and benefit of players and supporters. There will have to be significant give and take but if rugby can’t achieve it now, I’m not sure it ever will.