‘Rugby is not just a sport, it’s a lifestyle’

FOR Nokuthula Shangase, rugby is not just a sport, but a lifestyle.

The 29-year-old is currently the outside center (number 13) for the Optimum Harlequins Rugby Club’s women’s team, Lady ‘Quins.

An outside center is considered a powerful player and a quick runner. They are responsible for breaking through defensive lines and providing space for any players outside them.

However, she also plays multiple positions with the forwards as well as backline.

Shangase, who is a constable in the South African Police Service (SAPS), said she was introduced to touch rugby in high school in 2006.

“I was 13-years-old when I first started, and by the following year I was playing provincially. I believe it helped me in grasping core rugby skills and laid the foundation for my journey into the world of rugby. In 2017, I joined the police and while at training college, my physical training instructor, saw potential in me when he made our platoon play touch rugby during one of our fitness sessions.

“He said the police was in the process of forming a women’s rugby team and it was recommended that he sign me up if I was interested. That was music to my ears. I was very much intrigued since this would mean I had to learn contact rugby which I had never played before,” she said.

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Shangase said she was selected for the SAPS KZN rugby team in 2018. “During the inter-provincial tournaments that same year, I made the SA Inter-forces team where I had the privilege of playing alongside Springbok 7s players. Our team won gold that year, and there was no greater feeling than being among a group of winners. Those are some of the highlights that developed my strong passion for rugby,” she said.

Shangase said in 2019, she went on to play for the Jaguars Rugby Club, and had the opportunity to play alongside experienced players, who inspired her.

The mother of one said in 2022, she joined the Lady ‘Quins after she was informed of the team by a colleague who played for the men’s team.

“He informed me that his club, which is based on The Bluff and was closer to home, was scouting for women in order to form a rugby team. I found this as an opportunity to improve on my ‘rusty rugby skills’ after having had a baby and coming out of lockdown. It was back to basics, but I do not regret making that decision. I gained a better understanding and knowledge of rugby in just a period of a year since joining the team,” she said.

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Shangase said she enjoyed the adrenaline that comes with each game.

“Every game has a different approach to it. My Saturdays are now dedicated to rugby. We have become a community and we support each other through thick and thin. However, it is important for rugby players to be physically fit, resilient, have communication skills and be a team player.

“On a personal level, playing rugby has been beneficial as it keeps me physically and mentally fit, especially in my work environment. Another common trait between rugby and my career is to be a tactical thinker,” she said.

Shangase said there were some challenges that come with rugby, such as the risk of injury and trying to maintain a balance between one’s career, family and rugby.

“Luckily for me, rugby has become a lifestyle and I have managed to influence my family to love the sport. My two-year-old daughter is my greatest cheerleader and will hopefully be a rugby player in the near future. As for the injuries, they make you stronger,” she said.

The team will play against the UKZN PMB Rugby Club at the Harlequins sports grounds on May 27, at 12:00.

Women interested in joining the team, can attend one of their training sessions held on Mondays and Wednesdays, between 17:30 and 19:30, at 50 Garcin Place on The Bluff.

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