See you later Leitao
JACQUES LEITAO is swapping the rugby pitch for the corn fields and the 35-year-old couldn’t be happier. The Zimbabwe rugby stalwart last weekend hung his boots, bringing the curtain down on a very successful career spanning well over a decade.
And to prove that he is not just a one-trick pony, Leitao plans to spend the rest of his days with his family and business.
“Coaching remains an option but not now, I have a few things to do and they are not rugby related,” said Leitao who won an agricultural commodity broking firm. Many feel Leitao still had a lot to offer to the game but the former Sables loose forward insists it was time to call it a day.
“With all the training, all the games, all the camps and hours spent in the gym; it just got a point where I no longer had any time for my family,” he said.
JACQUES LEITAO is swapping the rugby pitch for the corn fields and the 35-year-old couldn’t be happier. The Zimbabwe rugby stalwart last weekend hung his boots, bringing the curtain down on a very successful career spanning well over a decade.
And to prove that he is not just a onetrick pony, Leitao plans to spend the rest of his days with his family and business.
“Coaching remains an option but not now, I have a few things to do and they are not rugby related,” said Leitao who won an agricultural commodity broking firm.
Many feel Leitao still had a lot to offer to the game but the former Sables loose forward insists it was time to call it a day.
“With all the training, all the games, all the camps and hours spent in the gym; it just got a point where I no longer had any time for my family,” he said.
“I am 35 years old now, have had a successful career and it’s time to give others a turn. I also have a business, which I have not given enough time and effort.”
That Jacques Leitao has had a successful career is undeniable.
He captained the Zimbabwe Sevens rugby team for well over a decade, leading them to two Rugby World Cup Sevens tournaments in 2009 and 2013.
He was also a long serving vice-captain of the senior national XVs rugby.
Now, as he prepares to ride off into the sunset, an element of uncertainty currently resides within the Leitao household as rugby has also been a big part of their lives.
“Rugby has been my life. I have forged many lifelong friendships through the sport, my brother (Pete Joubert) played the sport and most importantly I met my husband through the sport,” revealed Leitao’s wife, Kelly.
Jacques and Kelly first met in 2008, have been married for nine years now and have two daughters - Chloe and Haylee.
“We met at Old Georgians Sports Club which she used to frequent when she came to see her brother, Pete Joubert, play. We met, dated for a while,” said Leitao before being interrupted by the wife.
“And he also proposed to me on the rugby pitch,” said Kelly with a giggle.
She continued: “It was after the Bowls final against Ireland at the 2009 Sevens World Cup.
“The game had just finished with my husband scoring the winning try after which he appeared to get hurt.
‘I rushed to the touchline, along with the other WAGS (wives and girlfriends) and was met by Brendan Dawson who encouraged me to go to him.”
What she did not know, at the time, was that it was all a clever ruse.
The entire Cheetahs team formed a circle around her, after which Leitao got down on one knee and proposed.
The next few years would revolve around the sport as Jacques was often away either at the gym, training, in camp or at either one of the local rugby grounds on game days. Saturdays were usually match days. The Leitao daughters said they will miss watching their dad planting tries.
“Watching daddy play rugby was awesome but now that he has retired, things won’t be the same anymore,” they said.