SUNSHINE BRIGHTENS INJURY GLOOM
A TRIP TO QUEENSLAND EARLIER THIS YEAR PROVED TO BE HUGELY BENEFICIAL FOR CHIEFS PLAYERS ROBBIE ROBINSON, BEN AFEAKI AND ROSS FILIPO. Rugby injuries come in all shapes and sizes, from the sickening crunch of an impact gone wrong to the slow creep of fibres under stress. NZRPA research shows that players will receive an average of 2.5 injuries per year during their careers
Chiefs fullback Robbie Robinson has run the injury gauntlet more than most in his career and his latest was a doozy – blood flow was being restricted to a hip and caused him problems for the best part of two years.
Luckily for Robinson, during the darkest moments when he was out of this year’s Super 15 campaign, he had a week of sunshine to completely change his outlook.
Robinson, Ben Afeaki ( concussion) and Ross Filipo ( hamstring) got to spend a week on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast with business owner Darryl Rankin from DSE Civil Electrical earlier this year, as part of an innovative new injury rehabilitation programme.
“It had never really crossed my mind that an injury could happen so fast and that my life could change so rapidly,” Robinson explained.
“I had lost my passion for the game and I couldn’t see any form of future other than building - and given my injury, even that was in doubt. Being able to spend a week on the Sunshine Coast has been life- changing. It allowed me to realise that anything is possible - that when you break things down, and view situations as a business, things become clear.”
Rankin was introduced to Chiefs and Waikato personal development manager Judy Clement by Athletes to Business owner Mareet Carley during a routine catch up.
The pair work collectively on certain aspects of the Chiefs personal development programme and Carley often helps players who are either injured or nearing the end of their sporting careers by providing opportunities, advice and networks as they begin their transition phase.
As well as spending time within the DSE environment, learning about the logistics of the business from coal- face to management, the players also went on a charter fishing trip and spent time at the Caloundra Rugby Club, where former Chiefs teammate Richard Kahui’s brother is still playing.
A trip to the Sunshine Coast University to meet bio- mechanist Dr Mark Sayers was one of the highlights for the players, where they were able to see world- class injury assessment software in full swing.
Filipo also attended an Economic Development meeting with Carley, the Sunshine Coast Council and a number of key local identities to give advice on a proposed Injury Rehabilitation Centre being built in Caloundra.
“After considerable research into the benefits of removing an athlete from their environment post- injury, we were able to put together a sound network of top class sports injury providers and resources in the Sunshine Coast,” Carley said.
“It gave both players and management peace of mind that everything needed was right at their fingertips and also took the pressure away from the players, allowing quality time to be spent on other areas like community engagement and career management.”
Rankin, who was at the meeting earlier this year, describes himself as “just one of the bro’s”. The difference is that he’s also successfully started a business from scratch and built it up to be one of the leading civil electrical companies in Queensland.
With offices in both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts, Rankin and Carley were able to offer a unique injury rehabilitation programme which ticked all the boxes for the players, including mental and physical rehabilitation, career management and personal development, in an environment removed from their own and with no external pressures.
“I’ve been worried about my future because I didn’t really know what path I should be going down,” Afeaki said, adding that his long- term concussion worries were causing a headache in more ways than one.
“I guess that I have been a bit vacant - my concussion has caused me grief, and I had fully lost my focus but I have a different view on life now. Spending time on the programme reassured me that I don’t need to worry. Being able to recognise opportunities as they pass your door has been incredibly beneficial.”
The Chiefs want to lead the way in how they work with injured players and this year team management - led by Clement - have developed a process to best support players with long term injury.
It includes having a clear plan, agreed by all, for their rehabilitation, time away from the environment and a focus on personal development, in particular their career plan for post rugby.
Players were required to complete a career process with Lee Brodie from Career Dynamics, who works closely with PDM’s and players via the NZRPA.
Clement was delighted with how the players responded to the trip.
“I was really proud of their openness to what was offered to them and the way they made an effort to get out of their comfort zones – at no stage did they hesitate in following the guidance given to them,” Clement said. “Perhaps they realised they had nothing to lose but a lot to gain – that certainly ended up being the case.”
“I’ve got a real appreciation for sorting things off the field now and trying to get my life outside of footy sorted which has been great for me and it’s probably something I want to pass on to the younger guys,” Robinson added.
BEN DOES SOME DIGGING WORK [ LEFT] WHILE THE BOYS [ RIGHT] HELP WITH A COACHING SESSION. ROSS [ BELOW] ATTENDS A CONFERENCE