In an athlete’s quest to be the best, a number of attributes are required.  A positive attitude, determination, resilience and talent are undoubtedly necessary. 

But, at In The Winning Zone, we believe one of the most important tools in the development of young athletes to be learning from the best. In any sport, if you want to make it to the top, surely it makes sense to learn and gain information from your peers?

So, we caught up with Thulani Ngidi, a rugby player who has experienced this mentality throughout his career. A South African national, Ngidi has spent time on rugby exchange programmes in New Zealand, Australia, and England and is now spending six months playing in Scotland with Kirkcaldy.

Growing up in a struggling township Natal, Ngidi was without running water and electricity in his home and school for the first 15 years of his life. 

“We don’t have sports facilities or anything so it’s a huge commitment for parents to give money all the time to send their children to Durban for training. My dad did help me in terms of travelling to training every Tuesday and Thursday until I got a part-time job to help myself.”

Throughout the early stages of his life, the young prop travelled to a neighbouring school to train and play rugby with a view to furthering his abilities in the sport. 

At 15, he was selected to be a part of the development team at The Sharks Academy where he trained alongside the best young players in the region, including current Springboks Francois Steyn and JP Pietersen.

Aged 20, he was offered a junior contract at the academy, which gave him the opportunity to eat, sleep and live rugby at in Durban. Living with his fellow players in accommodation minutes away from the training ground, Ngidi was enveloped by the sport he loves.

In the meantime, he was attending daily lectures and studying a diploma in marketing, “It gives you something to fall back on if rugby doesn’t work out, or if you get badly injured,” he said.

However, after lectures each morning, the focus returned completely to rugby. “We would be in the gym for a few hours and then it’s just rugby until about three. After that I would go to the club I play for outside the academy and train with them,” he said. “It’s been a busy six years!”

Having been on rugby exchange programmes all around the world, Ngidi is well aware of the benefits these programmes can have to a young player’s rugby development. “I’ve been able to experience various different styles of rugby around the world which has really helped me as a player,” he said. 

Currently half way through his time in Scotland, the 24-year-old has settled into a style of rugby, which is entirely different from what he is used to in South Africa. Trudging through sodden fields in Fife is a world away from the punishing heat of home.

“It’s slow rugby here, the pitches are muddy and the game is played at a slower pace. At home it’s fast, running rugby and you’ve got to be really fit. It’s really quick, even if you’re a prop you’ve got to run everywhere and hit every ruck.”

So how does Ngidi think a young Scottish player could benefit from participating in an exchange programme to his home country? “I would say they’d benefit from learning about the culture and style of rugby over there and the weather. It’s kind of hard to play quick rugby in the really hot weather.” 

He also believes that any young Scot involved in Academy rugby in South Africa would get a taste a taste for the mental strength and winning mentality, which exists out there. “They just hate losing. Even at club level, especially if you’re playing at home you cannot lose, you have to win your home games.”

Anthony Phillips, a South African of Scottish decent, currently runs his own rugby and cricket agency in Scotland. Phillips is fully supportive of the academy system and although recognising the system in place in Scotland, he believes the South African option offers a more “intense” experience. 

“I think that going to an academy over there is that little bit more intense because you’re staying a couple of minutes away and you have to go there every day and train,’ he told In The Winning Zone. “The players are focused on rugby morning, noon and night.”

One Scot who has had first-hand experience of learning from the best is Ross Doneghan. Having spent the past year at the South Africa Rugby Legends academy in East London, Doneghan has progressed both physically and mentally and will be playing senior Currie Cup rugby for Border Bulldogs in the upcoming season. 

“Much like Scotland, South Africa has a very distinguished rugby history, and being at a rugby academy, in either country, will have many benefits,” he said.

Doneghan also highlighted the fact that regardless of previous plaudits or qualifications, the South African academies would be willing to take any young player who has the right attitude and a determination to reach the top.

“A lot of South African academies have an application system so whether or not you’ve been selected for district, national, or international squads, the door is always open.”

IC

© Copyright In The Winning Zone, MMX, All Rights Reserved

If you are interested in exploring the opportunity of attending a rugby academy in South Africa, contact Anthony Phillips – www.phillipssportsagency.com