Recently, whilst having coffee with a mate, I was provided some insight into how professional rugby players are perceived by much of the general public.
Or rather, how the job of professional sport is perceived.
My mate was expressing his lack of job satisfaction.
I’m paraphrasing, but I believe he said he had developed “a dark seed of hatred and contempt for the Australian Public Service.”
Putting aside the melodrama of his comments, I attempted to sympathise with his predicament.
He cut me off mid sentence with: “What would you know, you spent 10 years playing rugby. Getting paid to get fit, go to golf days and play a match on the weekend. Sounds like a real tough gig!”
As I pondered his comments and my need to find new friends, it did occur to me that few people understand what being a professional sports person is like.
Let me start by saying rugby is a fantastic job.
You get to travel the world with some of your best mates, doing the job you love, and getting well paid for it. If it appeared that this column might define the “plight” that is being a pro sportsperson, I’m going to have to disappoint.
Rather, I’m going to invite you (remember I’m looking for a new mate to replace the whinging one) to take a walk through a day in the life of a professional rugby player.
Let’s take a look at a Tuesday.
Tuesday is one of the busiest days of the week. It’s usually the most physically demanding day for players.
Most teams have now moved to electronic diaries. This way, coaches and managers can communicate changes to the schedule with the entire squad at the click of a button.
In the morning, players prepare for training at home.
For me, this involved a few rehabilitative ankle exercises, breakfast as designed by a dietician, and packing my kit bag for the morning session.
Any players that require pre-training physiotherapy or strapping arrive early so that they are ready to join the rest of the group.
After arriving at the training HQ, players break into units and head into the “computer room”. Units are often divided as: outside backs, inside backs, back rowers, tight five.
Within these groups, players will look at video of the team they will face on the weekend. The technology for game analysis is now advanced. It’s easy to condense and collect video clips of very specific game play.
As an example, outside backs can view kicking tendencies of the opposition and inside backs might take a look at how teams defend in their 22.
Forwards usually stare at the computer screen waiting for a back to explain how to switch on the “talking box.”
Notes are recorded and each group will elect a player to present their findings to the team during the afternoon’s team meeting.
From there, forwards and backs split up and head to the gym.
Training programs are individualised but sessions tend to be short and intense, aiming to get the best bang for buck without unduly adding to the training load.
From the gym, forwards and backs head to a field session.
Backs run through plays, do speed & skill work and iron out any timing or combination issues. Forwards do breakdown work, scrums and line-outs.
From the field session, players head to recovery.
Recovery involves a warm down, a stretch and hot and cold plunge pools. From there, it’s lunchtime, which is often provided onsite.
The early afternoon is open for physiotherapy, massage, sleep and general downtime before the next session.
Players are able to head home if they choose.
After 2-3 hours everyone reassembles for a team meeting. Team meetings cover schedule and travel information, media strategy and general info.
From there, coaches discuss strategy and players present to the group. The last 5 minutes is usually reserved for the captain to highlight important focus points.
The afternoon field session is high tempo, attempting to mimic game speed and intensity.
The team will move up and down the field running through various scenarios. Often, there is a fully-opposed session where one team will mimic the upcoming oppositions’ attacking and defensive traits.
After the field session there is usually a short conditioning block.
This is a “top up” session and meant to ensure that gains made during the pre season are retained. As per the morning session, recovery is completed and players make their way home in the early evening.
As you can probably tell, it’s hardly the most glamorous day imaginable. It’s a challenging, mentally and physically demanding day.
It’s also a lot of fun.
I should note that Wednesday is reserved for massages, movies, counting ones cash, golf days and throwing ones head back and laughing at the rest of the world.
jameswm
Guest
Ummmmm... Where is the fitness training?
Damo
Guest
Second that. The only try I remember was the chip over the top along the sideline before the re-gather. Now I was and still am a Wendell fan, but I knew in that play that that try was not one that Dell would have scored. Good writing Clyde.
Ben S
Roar Guru
'there’s a hell of a lot of hard work, dedication and commitment in every one of these blokes which I don’t necessarily see in the general workforce. It’s horses for courses.' Great point.
mcxd
Guest
Clyde, firstly thanks for the article, as someone who can only dream of doing what you did it was great to get your insight. Secondly, I still remember back in 2004 when before the game against England wendell did a hammie and you were a late replacement. So what did you do ? Score three tries and whipped England 51-15 ! How good was that ! I celebrated long into the morning after that.
mcxd
Guest
Brett, As a Christian I can't tune into that station :)
Johnno
Guest
I must admit I like the compasrions with Clyde/Hogo articles and Campo aritcles. Both from different generations like say 2 generation difference, Campo born in 1962 and Clyde and Matt Hogson both born in 1981. The difference and outlook on rugby union is very different and stark, due to playing indifferent eras. Different training programs, different laws and rules of the sport of rugby union, and different pressures amateur vs professional and attitudes to the sport of rugby union as a result of the generational difference. Campo only played pro rugby at the back end of his career, when pro rugby was very new . All makes for very absorbing reading the changes and comparisons and insights of the elite players form different generations.
Sprigs
Guest
Good article, Clyde. But where is the sympathy for the ordinary rugby fan, those who have to shoulder just as heavy demands but of a different kind? We have to draw on all our resources to watch game after game at the weekend. It takes stamina, and draws on high levels of planning skills-- getting in all those refreshments and recording the games we can't watch at the time due to outrageous demands for attention by spouses children, employers. Before and after the games, we have to spend day in and day out analysing comment on this site from various one-eyed cranks (definition: those who disagree with us). At the ground we have to shout at the top of our voices so the touchies and ref can hear our advice and our commentary ("Still on the sauce, sir?") Do you realise we put in all this work for free ? It's time that the sport started paying fans for our contribution. I for one promise that if I were paid even the former salary handed out to Will Genia, I wouldn't even consider switching to barrack for the Western Force.
Green Lantern
Roar Pro
A great evaluation Clyde, The life of an amateur player seems much more easier and soft to me now. I just show up at trainning after work, no extra trainning, no extra jogging. I dont even go lifts some weights anymore. I know professionals get paid and everything, but I believe the passion of the pro and the part-timer for Rugby largely remains equal. If anything, this article serves as an inspiration to me. My laziness for extra trainning cant be comprehended any longer. No wonder I cant complete a game because of unfitness. I, as well as others are motivated, thank you Clyde. I may not be a pro player, but I can surely work harder then I do now. PS: Clyde, I remember seeing you playing for the Baby Boks and be in The Sharks team and I liked you as a player. But when you moved to Australia I completely hated you. I know as a player its hard to always satisfy everyone. And also as a player you had to move to better your career and find more opportunities. I only understand that now, and after reading all your contributions on TheRoar the last couple a months, I realized you are just another person like me. Sorry for being prejudgemental.
stuff happens
Guest
Interesting article Rath, thanks. The professional rugby player's life increasingly resembles a modern version of the gladiator. There are more games as the RU's try to make a return on their investment and grow the game in a competitive sporting environment. Men have been made bigger, faster & stronger with enormous physical effort & endless training. Some of the collisions are amazing ( Bulls/Stormers earlier in the Super is my current reference!). How much punishment can their bodies take?There are more injuries & I'll be interested to see which teams / players are left standing by say Christmas - & that's just this year. Managing all this is & will become a huge issue for Super coaches especially in countries like Australia where the player base is not as great as in NZ or your native SA. I'm also sure that it will lead to more physical issues when players retire & yes, when most of them are unfortunately soon forgotten. In the meantime they should enjoy!
Wal the Hooker
Guest
Nice one Rath. As Jiggles pointed out its one thing to keep the body in peak physical condition but keeping the mind motivated week in week out is a whole other challenge. Then of course there's also the self-discipline to not go out and get trashed all night etc... Understand how some younger players can get themselves in trouble, it really is holistic approach to keep on a players part to earn their contract. Like anything in life after a while the gloss wears off so one has to keep being motivate 24/7 really
Blue Blood
Guest
Hear, hear. Rath and Hodgo are consistently the pick of the bunch.
Blue Blood
Guest
Missed the mark for sure. And I have not heard of one rugby player who has earned enough to retire from work for life after their careers. Sharpe has had one of the longest careers and he is fully set up to enter the workforce next year.
Chris
Guest
I've seen Owen Finegan around town twice in the last year. Once was in McDonald's Manuka. The other was at a Kebab shop in Queanbeyan. Whilst the sample size isn't huge I think we can logically conclude the guy eats out a bit. My favorite Finegan memory is when he missed a game in 2001 after injuring himself when he was SHAVING HIS LEGS. I remember the footage of a nurse pushing him along a hospital hallway in a wheelchair. The poor woman wouldn't have weighed more than 60kg and was struggling to move him!
Chris
Guest
Been trying to find that ad on Youtube. No luck.
mudskipper
Guest
Rath Can you do a day in the life of a Ref? now that would be funny....
Rath
Guest
Thanks Jeznez, I really enjoyed Hodgo's column this week too. Rath
Rath
Guest
Jiggles, In all honesty it can be monotonous. I think the way to get around that is to adopt an attitude of continuous improvement. If one views each training session as an opportunity to become better it makes each session a challenge. I think all the great players do this. Trying to improve a specific skill, run a little quicker, improve power, agility and strength even if it's only .01% all help to keep the mind focused and positive. In reference to training and playing injured I think the exact opposite occurs. I know when i was struggling with my knee that I began dreading training because i knew I was harming myself rather than bettering myself. I think there is a distinction between playing with the minor niggles that all players carry and trying to force your body through when it's in serious trouble. Sadly I learnt that lesson the hard way :) Going back to motivation I also think that focusing on the fresh challenge that each of the different opposing teams present is a good way to stay fresh. That and keeping an element of fun and unpredictability all pay dividends in a long hard season. Rath
Moaman
Guest
I 2nd that.Really enjoyable read.May even have set a new benchmark for the Roar.....
jeznez
Guest
Well done Clyde, great article. In my view your's and Hodgo's are the pick of the week on the expert side of the ledger.
snowman
Roar Rookie
I'm glad to hear all is well with the knee and the body generally. The point I was rather clumsily making was that when your playing with an injury, it must take all the fun out of it. I couldn't imagine personally having the drive to push on when one is suffering serious pain, which I know many professional players do. I have nothing but respect for professional athelites, as they are doing something I know I can't. If they have good bits - excellant - but I know there are going to be occasions when it must be down right ugly!!!