FORMER Australian rugby player James Holbeck has lifted the lid on the brutal challenges athletes face both during and after their careers.
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Holbeck, who played seven Test matches with the Wallabies from 1997 to 2001, spoke at Scone Grammar School’s celebrations on Friday for the opening of stage 1 (a) of its Secondary Teaching and Learning Centre.
A career that spanned eight years saw Holbeck battle countless injuries and disciplinary issues prior to his eventual retirement in 2003.
In his current role as a motivational speaker at schools, he aims to help prepare young athletes for the future.
He said many sportspeople struggle once their playing careers are over.
“One of the highlights of my career was when I got the chance to play against the All Blacks [New Zealand], which was a real privilege,” he said.
“It was at the MCG [Melbourne Cricket Ground] in front of 94,000 people and was one of my first Tests.
“That was an incredible experience to run out against the best team in the world at one of Australia’s iconic sporting venues.
“But I came into the Wallabies, got injured, and then went out the back door, which is fairly typical for a lot of players.
“Many people never get to that level so I struggled for a long time because I saw a dream of mine disappear.
“You see yourself as a football player and then you no longer are, so that’s the brutal reality of it.”
Holbeck said he had tried a number of different employment options since retirement before returning to speaking in schools.
“I finished a psychology degree, spent some time working at a counselling service, lectured in universities, worked for a charity, and now I’ve gone back to this,” he said.
“While I was here I also spoke to [Scone Grammar School] students about resilience, grit, and a little bit about identity.
“I guess it’s just giving them some questions to answer for themselves.
“It’s all well and good me telling them things but they need to try and find the solutions for themselves.”