The future of rugby players that are contracted by Unions at a young age can be dumped into uncertainty quite easily because of their lack of higher education.
That is why the South African Rugby Players’ Association did some research among 97 professional players, including Springboks, at the end of last year.
SARPA chief executive Piet Heymans said that South Africa and New Zealand each have around 600 professional players compared to the 150 of Australia.
The countries’ socio-economic circumstances differ, but only 18.8% of South African players have degrees, while the Aussies boasted 79% by 2008.
Furthermore, 58.3% of the country’s professional players have matric as a highest qualification.
In the light of this fact, SARPA have launched a wealth management course of five weeks among willing players at Boland.
“You get a basic qualification that will give you a foot in the door at any institution that resides under the Financial Services Board,” said Heymans.
“We want more successful guys like Bismarck du Plessis in South Africa. When he has finished training with the Sharks, he puts on a suit to see clients,” said Heymans.
However, Heymans believes South Africa’s SANZAR partners are far ahead of them.
“Australia already received funds (from their government and the Australian Rugby Union) 10 years ago to prepare players for life after rugby. By 2008, 79% of Australia’s former players were in the career of their choice and 85% happy with life after rugby.”
New Zealand appointed a “professional development manager” at every franchise in 2001 to ensure that players study successfully while playing rugby.
The fact that only about a fifth of South Africa’s professional players are currently receiving tertiary education gives rise to just under half of them knowing what they want to do after their careers.
Danré Gerber, a Boland backline player and son of former Springbok Danie, is following SARPA’s course and told Sport24: “I’m still going to do a degree course, but for now am finding this interesting. While it’s aimed at life after rugby, it also helps you as player to manage your finances better.”
About the life after rugby course, Danie Gerber said: “Rugby is a short and uncertain career. I will advise guys at smaller unions to find another job or gain a qualification.
“But it’s the big unions that really worry me. They contract hordes of young players, but only a handful ultimately play professional rugby successfully. The rest then end up sitting without a qualification. That is why you always need something to fall back on.”
In America bleacherreport.com reported an interesting incident that occurred last month.
America’s top football league, the NFL, pulls in players annually from the country’s top university teams.
Myron Rolle of Florida State University was at the top of the list last year, but declined it due to a Rhodes bursary to study at Oxford University.
He wants to become a brain surgeon when he finishes as a player. However, the interest in his services declined due to his “commitment to the game” being questioned.
Heymans said that some South African rugby bosses had a similar attitude when it came to the academic upliftment of players.
This is exactly what I was refering to on the other thread. The Freestate offers so much more than of the other unions. Superb schools, academic and sport, and a Varsity and Technicon. Players can go to school, get a degree / diploma and play professional rugby before they get poached by the Bulls / WP / Sharks.
Not everyone can make a living out of surfing after rugby.
Come now Loosehead…
What can Freestate offer that Pretoria can’t ?
Very intresting article.
Scary actually to read that, only 18.8% of SA players have degrees compared to 79% of Aussies?
Think the Franchise that gives the youngsters a contract should pay for their education too. They do that in America why don’t we insist on it here?
In the Sharks Academy don’t they study as well as play rugby? Thought that was the case for the youngsters.
Think every rugby player earning huge amounts of money now should be investing their money into something for after rugby. Think most are. Though nothing, but nothing can compare to a education, especially if you have earned good money while playing rugby, you have both then, before you head off into the business world, with a great start with the amount the player has earned in his rugby career. Otherwise see the ones with little education going to work for Dstv as commentators 😯
This is a tough one,because although I’m a huge supporter of education unfortunately not everyone is meant to get University degrees. What do those guys do that dont want to study or just do have the studying ability to do it,what do they do after stopping rugby..
4 – Winston, they then get advice on how to invest their money wisely. Or off they go to Dstv 😀
Hi Puma,yeah I know a guy at the Sharks academy and they have to study something while being there.
Yeah,but they cant live off that money forever and there are only so many crap commentators that Dstv can hire 🙂
5 – That was meant for the player with little education. Also with their money maybe they could try and get a education after. Try to study something they enjoy. Something in sports or even get into rugby admin after in someway. Or if they have the ablity to get into coaching. Not all the very best rugby players are capable of doing that though. Just have to look at Martin Johnson. He was a world class player but his coaching is just terrible.
6 – Winston, thought the Sharks offered study with the rugby contract for the youngsters.
So Loosehead us Sharkies just don’t go off into the sunset an surf hey!!!……hehehe.
I’m not so sure about that Puma. I think Johnson could be a good coach but no matter how good you may be at man management the players at his disposal are pretty rubbish if we must be honest,the England side of the last 5 years has probably been there worst and they were lucky to get into The Rugby World Cup Final in 2007.
7 – Winston, They need to invest in a business for after. That is the best way. Get good advice to guide them.
Yes only so many can go to Dstv, but it seems plenty are there these days 😯 They cant even laugh the buggers…..hehehe. NO sense of humour either. Should have learned that before doing some commentating to make it a bit more interesting…hahahaha.
10 – Winston, even with there not too good playes (that is for Blue Bird) otherwise would say crap players…..hehehe. Johnson is no coach bud, he is useless. I bet if H. Meyer or Jake had that team they would be far better by now. 3 years almost down the drain for them.
12 – typo meant players.
I was young at the time but I still think Bill Mc Claren was the best commentator I ever heard,he was so honest and was a historian of the game.. Unfortunately these days you are either picked for reasons that are not entirely rugby based or you have to be a former Bok.. The guys bark these days instead of describe the game.
I still think the guy knows his stuff and would be an asset to English rugby. But maybe in a more Director of rugby or Managerial role than head coach if he is not the greatest coach..
Morne, Give us your view in this article.
in = on
14 – Winston, There can only be one and that was Bill McLaren. He was the best ever. I doubt we will ever have another like him ever.
As much as I hate listening to the Aussies they are biased most of the time, but they are damn funny they really do have good sense of humour. Mexted the kiwi does too. But NO-ONE will be like Bill ever.
People seem to forget that you didnt have to be an International rugby player to be a good commentator,its the same thing with cricket these days as well..
Hello,
At the Bulls all Academy players are required to study further, otherwise they do not qualify to attend the Academy.
Must agree, and a lot of the young players get picked up at varsity level. Key word VARSITY.
21@ Timmy – Werk julle weer flokkolllllllll vanoggend daar by IT?
20 – gbs, Think it is the same at the Sharks, think the youngsters have to study doo.
damn these typos…..gbs put up a spell check……hehehe.
doo = too.
gbs, When will we ever get the arrows back that refer to a post with the number already there? Without us having to do it ourselves?
24@ Puma – I will see whether I can get the time to develop the Reply To Function myself. I was badly dropped by someone who was supposed to do it and also by some of the “Reply To Plugin Sites”…. who never answered our queries.
In short, the problem lies in the Post Numbering Plug-in which conflicts with Reply To Plug-in’s available.
As you know, work comes first…
25 – gbs, Don’t stress about it but it would be nice to have it back. See they had done without it on keo for a long time too now it is back.
Blouste, well pretty girls for one thing 😆
Pretoria is so :poop: that you don’t even live there.
Loosehead, there’s a big difference between pretty girls and easy girls 😉
22@OR – Ek werk my gat lam. Maar mens moet ‘n plesietjie of 2 ook inwerk is dit nie waar nie.
28@blouste – Dont forget about Pretty Easy Girls.
😆
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