Author: Dr Dean Allen
According to leadership guru Warren Bennis, “leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” Rugby and Leadership captains have that innate ability to do just this, Rugby and leadership go hand-in-hand . Here in South Africa we have witnessed numerous leaders connected to the sport of rugby who have displayed such qualities. I have […]
According to leadership guru Warren Bennis, “leadership is the capacity to translate vision into reality.” Rugby and Leadership captains have that innate ability to do just this, Rugby and leadership go hand-in-hand . Here in South Africa we have witnessed numerous leaders connected to the sport of rugby who have displayed such qualities.
I have chosen 3 examples here yet there are many others. The iconic Springboks are not only synonymous with South African rugby but with South African national identity as a whole. I have been researching the significance of rugby in South Africa for the past 25 years and in that time have come across many captains who have shown what it is to be a great leader.
My fascination with South African rugby began with the historic 1906 rugby tour to Britain and France – the first by a South African team overseas. Set against the backdrop of political instability and racial tension within South Africa, the tour took place only four years after the end of the Anglo-Boer War and was used as an opportunity to unify the divided nation.
These first-ever ‘Springboks’ contained players from both sides of the conflict and were captained by an Afrikaans schoolteacher named Paul Roos. Because of his leadership qualities in not only uniting a divided team but also a divided country, Roos has gone on to achieve iconic status within South African rugby folklore.
South Africa was again on the brink of war in 1995 when another Springbok captain displayed great Rugby and Leadership that was perhaps more important than any game of rugby.
Who can forget that iconic image of Nelson Mandela handing Francois Pienaar the Rugby World Cup on that fateful day at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg? Pienaar, along with Madiba, recognised the power of sport in unifying a nation and as such provided the leadership upon which the ‘Rainbow Nation’ could take shape. Fast forward to recent months and South Africa are again Rugby World Champions. But now they are led by a true icon and role model.
In 2018, Siya Kolisi was appointed captain of the Springboks, becoming the first black man to hold the position. Not only has Kolisi led South Africa to World Cup success on the field of play, more importantly he has led a renewed movement towards equality and understanding in South African society in general.
As such, in December 2019, Siya Kolisi was named in New African magazine’s list of 100 Most Influential Africans. Like Paul Roos and Francois Pienaar before him, our current Springbok captain indeed recognises the qualities required to lead not only a team but also the hopes of a nation.
Rugby and leadership go hand-in-hand and these 3 great captains epitomise this.
Contact Us at WeSpeak Global and follow us on Twitter
The articles, video and images embedded on these pages are from various speakers and talent.
These remain the property of its owner and are not affiliated with or endorsed by WeSpeak Global.
I promised that I would unpack my personal Habits That Help You Thrive! and give you examples of my high value, low value and time stealer habits. Keep reading to get insights into: My top 5 high-value habits Examples of each habit category High-value habits that you can add Low-value habits that can be transformed […]
We are all spending a lot of time inside our homes. How much do you REALLY need? For those whose homes are a disorganized clutter zone, this could be stressful and result in more anxiety than isolating already brings to the table. If you are constantly tripping over stuff on the floor, and having to […]
Today I tried to count how many minutes of the last two decades I spent holding my breath being Comfortably Uncomfortable. Decade one of freediving competitively where I would train several five minute breath-holds a week with a maximum of just over six minutes every other days. Hundreds of dives down to 20 then 30 […]
Aerial warfare of a whole different flavour has hit the open skies. Anti “Flying Pineapple” technology implemented by various private companies has become a thorny issue for the world’s biggest online retailer, Amazon furious about the use of anti-“Flying Pineapple” technology. Disclaimer: This article is a forecast of a possible future and should not be […]
I want you to think about investing in yourself as you become more resilient. The work that feeds your mind, body and soul. Self-investment is the first step in your resilience journey I want you to think about investing in yourself as your most important work. The work that feeds your mind, body and […]
Here are 3 things I have now that a 6-figure salary couldn’t give me after I left my $500,000 a year job to start my own company, and I couldn’t be happier. On paper, everything about my career was amazing. I’d become the CEO of a large company at the age of 42. In less […]
The role of Leadership in a crisis, Leading through and out of a crisis is not easy. The uncertainty a crisis brings can leave people feeling disorientated, overwhelmed and unable to act. Intentional leadership is key in these times and those leaders who are able to slow down, step back and challenge their perspectives and exercise […]
Worrying is psychologically debilitating and The Opposite of Worrying Planning Recently, I helped a client eliminate the worrying component in his narrative which was causing serious procrastination. This is not unusual, and here are some thoughts for those who find themselves trapped in this wheel of hell. I understand worry intimately. I know those who […]
Our Mission
© All rights reserved 2025. Created using VOXEL THEME
