TRANSITIONBOOKLET UNDERSTANDINGYOURSELFINANEWCHAPTEROFYOUR STORY
PREPARING YOURSELF FOR TAKING THE NEXT STEP FORWARD WITH THE ADVANTAGE LINE PROGRAM
It’ssometimeshardtoknowwhattheright decisionmightbewhenconsideringwhetherto hanguptheboots.There’ssomuchuncertainty aboutwhatcouldhappenwitheachdecision andtherecanbepressurearoundmakingacall thatclosesthedooronanimportantchapterof yourlife.
Somefeelliketheyknowit’stimeandneverlace upabootagain,someenjoyroundingouttheir careerbackataclubrugbyandothersmight evengetanunexpectedoverseasorinterstate offertheyfeeltheycan’trefuse.
Someareforcedtowalkawaywithinjuryand otherswanttoprioritisetheirlivesinotherways.
Manymakeadecisionandthenchangetheir mindsandthat’sperfectlynormal!
POSITIVETAKEONTRANSITION
Doyouidentifywithanyofthesepotentialpositives?
1.RenewedFreedom
a.Youwillhavemoretimeforotheractivitiesinlifethathavenotbeen possiblewithrugbyasapriority.Youwillhaveyourweekendsback.
b.Younowhavetheopportunitytopursuenewgoalsorundertakenew challenges.Youcannowapplysomeofyourskillsfromperforminginhigh performancesportingenvironmentstoanothersettingorcareer.
c.Youwillhaveanopportunitytounderstandyourselfinanewwayby buildinganewidentityofyourselforadaptingtheoldone.Areyousickof alwaysbeendescribedpurelyasaone-dimensionalperson,asjustarugby player?
2.EndingtheGrindofProfessionalRugby
a.Youwillnolongerhaveanyphysicaldemandsthatthegameaskedofyou onadailybasis.Haveyoueverwokenupandthefirstthingyoudoisto checkthebodytoseehowit’spulleduptoknowifyoucaneventrainorplay onthatday?Perhapsyou’vebecomesickofpushingyourbodythroughthe painbarrierorwithinjury.Maybeyou’llenjoynothavingtoendurethe monotonyofanotherpre-seasongrind.
b.Youcouldbeleavingbehindthesportingculturethataskssomuchofyou, butalsosometimescanfeellikeitdoesn’treallyrespectorcareaboutyour sacrifices.Somesportingculturescanhaveunrealisticexpectationsofyou, oranunhealthyculturethatdidn’tbringoutthebestinyouorothers.Youwill nowbeoutofthatenvironment.
POSITIVETAKEONTRANSITION
3.Theincreasedstabilityofhavingabase-location.
a.Youwillhavegreaterstabilityinlife,withlesstravelandtheeffectsonyour livingcircumstances.Travellingwhenyoufirststartplayingrugbycanbe excitingbutcanbecomestaleafterafewyearsoflivingoutofasuitcase& beingawayfromtheone’syoulove.Nowcanbeatimetocreateaplace thatfeelslikehomeformanywhohavehadtorelocatetoplaythegame.
Whataspectswillyouenjoyawayfromtheconstanttravel?
b.Youwillnowhavearenewedabilitytoformmoreconnectedrelationships withthoseoutsideoftheteam.Ifyou’vehadkids,youmayhavemissedkey milestonesorsomeoftheaspectsyou’dliketobemoreinvolvedinlike schooldrop-offs.Forsomepeoplemovingawayfromrugbyallowsthemto spendmoretimewiththeirfriends&family,doingthethingsthatrugbyhas restricted.
Summary:Maybeallthosepositivesaretrueforyouorsomearemore relevantthantheothers,butidentifyingafewcanhelpwithanyblackand whitethinkingthatmightonlybedrawntoseeingthenegativesoftransition.
Blackandwhitethinkingiswhereweonlyseethenegativesinthe transitionexperience,andchoosetofocusonlyonthoseaspects ratherthanacknowledgingthattheremightbesomebenefitsinthe changeofcircumstanceandsomeaspectstolookforwardto.
1)Notknowingwhattodowithyourcareerorhavingtofindajobisan uncomfortablechallengeformanyplayers.Somefinditchallengingto changefromanindustrywheretheyareconsideredanexpert,tonowlearning basicnewtasks.ClickheretoaccessRobertWalterssupport.
2)Interestinglyidentitychangesareseenasapositivebutalsoachallenging aspectoftransition.Someaskwhoarethey,awayfromTheRugbyPlayer. Page18foractivity.
3)Thesocialchangesoutoftheteamenvironmentcanbedifficult, particularlywithstayingconnectedwithteammates.Younolongerhavea buzzingteamenvironmenttofeelathome.Youcanfeelisolated.Page18for activity
4)MissingtheLifestyle–lifecanseemhardwhenmovingtoanewlifestyle withnewthingstolearnandanewwaytolive.Eventhoughthedailygrindwas difficult,italsobroughtasenseofdailyaccomplishmentworkingtogetherwith yourteammatestowardsacommonpurpose.Page18foractivity
5)Unfulfilledgoals–seekingafterhighstandardscanbehardtoletgoof. Howeverthisdisappearingcanbeanintenserealitychecktothetemporality oftheprofessionalenvironment.Lettinggoofthevisionofagreatcomeback oranidealfinishwhenitdoesn’teventuatecanbehard.Clickheretoseeyour transferableskills.
6)Prolongedinjury–areminderofthesacrificesforyourpursuitofplayingat ahighlevelandifyoufinishinawaythatdoesn’thonourthatcommitment,it canfeelthatyou’vegivenyourselfforanunworthycause.Everypastplayer needstodoamedicalassessmentwiththeirteamdoctor,andthenhas accesstomedicalcoveragefor2yearspostfinalcontractdate.
TOPTIPS
Learningtoappreciateyourownachievementsallowsyouto rememberyourexperiencesthroughamorepositivelens.Thisbreaks someofthehighstandardsthatdroveusnottoacceptanythingbut perfection.Writedownyourtop5achievements.
Creatingstoriesofhowyoudealtwithsetbacks,canhelpothersgoing throughsimilarcircumstancesandcreateclosureoranendingto challengingtimes.Write2storiesofresiliencewhereyoucameback fromasetbackandwhatyoulearntthatyoucouldpassontoa potentialinterviewer.
Rememberthegrowthmindsetthatallowedyoutobecomeahighly skilledrugbyplayermeansallowingyourselftosuckatsomethingnew andapplyingyourselftoimproveovertime.Thinkoftimesyouput yourselfoutsideofyourcomfortzonetoimproveyourperformance.Be patientwithyourselftolearnnewskills.
Embracenewsocialgroupsandnetworks.Sure,itmightnotbethe sameasarugbyenvironment,butitcanaddgreatsupportanda senseofbelonginginanewway.Overcomingthefeelingofisolation meansformingsocialorfriendshipgroupswhocanjoinyouon mutuallyenjoyableactivitieslikefishing,surfing,coffee,etc.Learntobe theinitiatorwhoplansaneventwithpeopleyoulikehangingoutwith.
Attendpastplayerfunctions.Itdoesn’tmatterhowmanyseasonsor gamesyouplayedbutconnectingwithpeoplewhohavesharedmany similarexperiencesandchallengescanhelpyoufindyourfeetoutside ofrugbyandpotentiallyhaveconnectionstoanindustrythatyouare interestedorinvolvedin.
TOPTIPS
Becomeinvolvedinthegameinadifferentwaytomaintainthe connectiontoateamenvironmentanduseyourhard-earnedexpertise. Youcouldcoachyourchild’steamorbecomeinvolvedintheclubgame. Somepeoplefeeltheyneedabreakfromrugbyandthatisnormaltoo. Findotherwaysofstayingconnectedwithacommunityeventora regulargymclass.
Thinkofsomeoftheskillsyoudevelopedwhileplayingsuchasteamwork,evaluationofperformance,leadershipandeffective communication.Youhavesomeamazingskillsbuiltunderpressurein highperformingteams.Youareanassetwhenpositionedintheright place.Checkouthowtobuildyourtransferableskillsfromourwebsite.
WhenyoufinishplayingprofessionallyinAustralia,youhavethreeyears ofstudythatyoucanclaimthroughtheTraining&EducationFund.It’sa greatideatoworkwithyourPDMtohelpyougetstartedortolookat coursesyoumaybeinterestedinstudying.Toaccessclickhere.
Manytransitioningplayersfindtheirownworkthroughdiscoveringwho’s intheirexistingnetworkoffriends,clubsponsorsorpeopleinvolvedin theirclub.RUPAalsohasanalumni&associatesthattheycanconnect youwith.Coffeecareerconversationscanbeagreatwayoffindingout moreaboutwhatpeopledowithoutthepressureofaskingforwork.Click heretojointheRUPAAlumniFacebookPage.
Yourjourneythroughtransitionisuniqueandcanfeelabitlikegrieving. Rememberthatyouhavepsychologicalsupportthatcanbearranged throughyourPDMorRugbyAustralia’sTELUSHealthsupport.Gotopage 16toaccess.
RUPAPARTNERSHIPS
RUPA’spartnersareeachbuiltoffagenuinecollaborativerelationship, designedtoprovidecomprehensiveresources,opportunitiesandsupport systemstonotonlyplayers,butpastplayers.
RUPAensuresthateachpartnershipfocusesnotonlyonplayerwelfare,but long-termsupportservicingtoensureplayersfeelfullyequippedintheir long-termjourneythroughlifeafterrugby.Whetheritbeaccessto career/financespecialistsornecessaryhealthservices,RUPAiscommitted tosupportingplayersinallaspectsoftheirlives.
ROBERTWALTERS
Pastplayerscanaccessspecialisedone-on-oneorgroupappointments withRobertWalters’RecruitmentSpecialistsforthepurposeofdeveloping CVwritingskillsinterviewskillstransferableskillsandidentifyingcareer o post-rugbytransitionjourney.Robert W yerswithatoolboxofresourcestoassist t onaldevelopmentandsince p nyp
EVERYTHINGMENTALTOUGHNESS
EverythingMentalToughnessisaleadingproviderofpsychological assessmenttoolstodevelopmentalskillsforlife.Thiscollaboration introducestheMTQPlusAssessmenttotherugbycommunity,aimingto enhanceplayers'mentalfortitudeandlifeskillsbothonandoffthefield.
TheMTQPlusAssessmentisarobustpsychometrictooldesignedtomeasure mentaltoughness,anessentialtraitforsuccessinhigh-pressure environmentssuchasprofessionalsports.MTQPlusevaluatesfourkey components:
ClickbelowtoaccessMTQPlusAssessmentandcontact ananyab@rupa.com.autoaccesstheassessment.
Controlassessesplayers’influenceovertheirlivesandemotions;Commitment measuresgoal-settingandperseverance;Challengegaugesadaptabilityand growthmindset;andConfidenceevaluatesself-beliefandinterpersonal interactions.
PAXANIMI
RUPAhasenteredanew partnershipwithPaxAnimi®, provingRUPAmemberswitha uniqueapproachtocompletea comprehensiveonlineestate planningassessmentwith documentsdeliveredquickly andcost-effectively,online.
Over50%ofAustraliansdonot havealegalwillorformof estateplanninginplace.
Throughthispartnership,past andpresentRUPAMembers,as wellasfamilymembersof players,willhaveaccesstoVIP pricing,negotiatedspecifically forRUPAmembers.
Puttinginplaceyourestateand willsisessentialinensuring peachofmindforyouandyour family
ThePaxAnimi®serviceincludesalllegal adviceandguidancetogenerateand executewills(includingtestamentary trusts),powersofattorneyand guardianshipdocuments,online.
LONDONACADEMYOFTRADING
LAT,isafinancialtradingeducationprovider,incoursessuchas Cryptocurrency,TradingPsychology,EquityInvesting,WealthManagement etc.ThiscollaborationmarksasignificantadditiontoRUPA’ssuiteofsupport servicesforwardinprovidingplayerswithcomprehensivecareer developmentopportunities.
Throughthispartnership,pastplayers(andtheirfriendsandfamily),will haveaccesstoavarietyofLAT'sprogramsatVIPpricing,includingshort courses,diplomas,andadvancedcertifications.ClickbelowtoaccessLAT courses:
CLICKHERETOACCESSLATCOURSES
ACCESSLAT’STRADINGCOURSES
Thispartnership,wasendorsedbyformerRUPAPresidentandWallaby#952, DavePorecki.ClickbelowtohearfromDaveonhisexperiencewithLAT.
WORLDRUGBYBRAIN
HEALTHSERVICE
TheWorldRugbyBrainHealthServiceisnowliveandavailabletosupport formerrugbyunionplayerstoundergoahealthscreeningprocess.The serviceprovidesahealthreporttorecommendmodifiablelifestyle habitswithaviewtoimprovingqualityoflifeorprovidingreferralsfor furthertestingifrequired.Clickheretoreadmore.
Theserviceisavailabletoanymaleandfemaleretiredplayerswhohave competedatanInternationalorSuperRugbylevel.
“PlayerwelfareisWorldRugby’s numberonepriorityandthatapplies equallytocurrentandformerplayers. InprovidingthisBrainHealthService, WorldRugbyisonceagain demonstratingthatoursportleads theworldinlookingafterourplayers atalllevelsofthegameandthatwe willneverstandstillwhenitcomesto ensuringrugbyisagamethatcanbe enjoyedbyeveryoneateverylevelof thesport.”
MENTALHEALTHANDWELLBEING SUPPORT
RugbyAU’spartner,TelusHealth,formerlyknownasBenestar,isaleading providerofhealthandwellbeingservices,providingmemberswith resourcesandspecialisedservicestosupportmentalwellbeing.
Throughtheapp,AustralianRugbyUnionplayers(pastandpresent),staff, andtheirfamilies,have24/7accesstoarangeofwellbeing/support servicestoassistinnavigatinglife'schallenges.
Aspartofthispartnership,youwillhaveaccessto6complimentaryand confidentialsessionswithclinicalspecialists,perwellbeingissue.
Suchissuesincludeaddiction,family,relationships,traumaandother professionaladvicesuchasnutrition,financeandlegalservices.
MORETHANARUGBYPLAYER
“Probablymillionsofusgrewupwantingtobeaprofessionalathlete.I amnotsure,however,howmanywouldwanttoquitbeingone.”
-OwenSlot(TheTimesReporter)
“Whoareyou?That’saquestionyouaskofyourselfwhenstripped nakedofyoursportingidentity.Youarenowaretiredsportsperson. Someonedefinedbywhattheyoncedidorforsome,whatnever reallyhappened.Youareaoncewasoraneverwas.…Weare grievingboththelossofapartofourlivesthatdefinedusandalso, unfulfilleddreamsthatnowcanneverhappen.”
“Yougofrombeingthekingofyourdomain,whereyouknowexactly whatyourjobis,theinfluenceyoucanhaveonyourteammates... thenallofasudden,you'restandingonyourowninaroomfullof strangers,whichareyournewworkfriends…Andthey'rewantingto talktoyouaboutwhatyouusedtobe,andallyouwanttofocuson iswhatyouwanttobecome."
-BrendanCannonWallaby#769
-JamesHolbeckWallaby#737
Startbyidentifyingallthegroupsorteamsyouinteractwithacross differentdomainsinlifeincludingfamily,work,teams,clubrugby teams,schoolfriends,gymclasses,leisuregroupactivitiesyoumaybe involvedin,faith-basedgroups,culturalgroups,andothergroupsto whichyoubelong.
Representthemasshapesandcompletethetaskbelowtheexample: Theactivityisdesignedtohelpaddressthesenseofidentitylossand isolationthatoccursformanyplayersgoingthroughtransition.Social identityallowsparticipantstounderstandthemselvesinabroadersense, acrossdifferentareasoflifeandthenreflectonwhotheyareinthatsetting andhowitdrivesasenseofbelonging.
Foreachgroupyoubelongtoratethefollowing(nexttoeachshape):
Howpositivedoyoufeelaboutbeingpartofthisgroup?1-5
Doyoufeellikeyouaretypicalorrepresentativeofthemembersinthis group? 1-5
Howmuchsupportdoyoureceivefromthisgroup?1-5
Whataresomenewgroupsyoumightbejoiningorwouldliketojoin?
Whataresomepositiveaspectsofbeingpartofthisnewenvironment?
Whenyoulookatallthegroupsyoubelongto,itcanreinforcethatyou aremorethanarugbyplayeroritmightgiveyoumotivationtothinkof joiningmoregroupsinthefuture.
PASTPLAYERRESOURCES
BDO
Financialplanning consultationsandfinancial healthchecksfromRUPA's partnerBDO,aredelivered atVIPpricingfrom financialspecialists
Toaccess,email ananyab@rupa.com.au
RobertWalters
Accessoneonone careercounsellingwith RobertWalters,in consultationwithyour PDM.
Toaccess,email ananyab@rupa.com.au
reallygreatsitecom
LondonAcademyof Trading
AccesstoVIPpricingfor shortcourses,diplomas, andadvanced certificationsinfinancial trading
UsecodeRUPA5tounlock discount
ClinicalPsychologistsTELUSHealth
Accessto6sessionsper issuefrom,RugbyAU’s Partner,TELUSHealth
DownloadtheTELUSHealth Oneapp
Username:ARU
Password:ARU01
Networking
RUPA,alongsideits commercialpartners, provideplayerswith networkingopportunities toconnectwithIndustry Leaders
Toaccess,email ananyab@rupa.com.au
EverythingMental Toughness
AccesstoVIPpricingto completetheMTQPlus assessmenttest
Toaccess,email ananyab@rupa.com.au
HarveyNormanDiscount
Playershaveaccessto VIPpricingatHarvey Norman
Email ananyab@rupa.com.au withtheSKU/model numberoftheproduct/s youwishtopurchase
PaxAnimi
AccesstoVIPpricingfor estateplanning available tocurrent,pastplayers andfamiliesofplayers
Toaccess,email ananyab@rupa.com.au
BrainHealthService
AccesstoVIPpricingfor estateplanning available tocurrent,pastplayers andfamiliesofplayers
Toaccess,email ananyab@rupa.com.au
PASTPLAYERRESOURCES
Usethebelowtemplatetosetoutagoalplanandactionstepstoovercome possibleobstaclesandbarriers.Settingshorttermgoalsandachieving themcanbuildmomentuminaperiodoftimewhereyoufeelaimless.
DUE DATE:
ACTION STEPS POSSIBLE OBSTACLES
E.gFeelingdemotivatedinnotknowingwhat todonext
HOW TO OVERCOME OBSTACLES: IF...THEN...STATEMENTS
E.gIfIamfeelingdemotivated,thenIwill makesureto findadailyroutinethatstructuresmyday
TRANSITIONBOOKLET UNDERSTANDINGYOURSELFINANEWCHAPTEROFYOURSTORY
