Srummaging Around the Issue of Self-care.

This past weekend, in my best blue and yellow, I watched the Warrington Wolves take on St. Helens. It was an awe-inspiring day out that saw The Wolves claw back a win after being 16-4 down; resulting in what was the loudest cheer I had ever heard. Yes, even louder than when I was in the cinema watching Avengers Endgame and Cap wielded Thor’s hammer. I still get shivers.

As a former passing-averse, openside flanker within a rugby union squad, this was my first exposure to rugby league. And whilst rugby league offers its own form of intensity and grittiness, the objective is the same – to get the egg-shaped ball over the line and touch it down to score points – so I was able to follow along.

That said, it is important to note that I was there in a capacity that granted me access ‘beyond the tunnel,’ where I was privileged to see how a top-class professional rugby team prepares for kick-off. There were so many different teams working together harmoniously to ensure the environment was right for both players and fans. It was a feast for the eyes. And within all this hustle and bustle, one moment proved poignant, causing me to stop, reflect, and understand that there is more in comparison between the two sports than just how to score points; it was on an individual and personal level…

Let me set the scene…

In the heart of the stadium, as the sun dips below the horizon, a remarkable formation begins.

A pack of wolves gathers, each member attuned to the primal rhythm of the impending contest. Their movements are synchronised and deliberate, a dance of strategy and strength.

The air is thick with anticipation, each player instinctively knowing their role within the pack.

The alpha leads with a quiet authority, rallying his teammates with words that echo through the locker room like a call to arms.

Muscles tense and hearts pound in unison as they ready themselves to step onto the field.

Amid the pre-game frenzy, a singular moment of tranquillity emerges as a lone wolf finds solace away from the bustling pack.

?Eyes closed, he takes slow, deliberate breaths, each one a step deeper into his mental sanctuary, stopping occasionally to jot down thoughts in a journal.

This ritual is his preparation, a quiet journey into The Zone, where focus sharpens, and instincts align for the impending contest.

Here, in this serene bubble, he readies himself for the onslaught that awaits on the field.

[End Scene]

Witnessing this player, who will obviously remain nameless, get prepared reminded me of my own mental health pre-game prep. The ritual I undertook every Saturday to get my head in the game - moments of calm before chaos - all to a profound Spotify mix that included Eminem’s “Lose Yourself,” Tom Walker’s “Leave a Light On” (the Red Hot Chilli Pipers version), and Destiny’s Child’s, “Lose My Breath.”

And that is what struck me: union vs. league, professional vs. amateur, forward vs. backs – it doesn’t matter; in that one moment everything just fizzles away to leave one person dedicating time to ready themselves, to mentally prepare, to get in “The Zone”.

?For anyone not familiar with The Zone, it is a mystical state of intense focus where you lose your self-awareness as an individual and merge with the task at hand. Time travels faster in The Zone as your heightened sense of clarity removes you from your environment. When in The Zone, you achieve an optimal level of concentration and performance so that the job to be done almost seems automatic or effortless.

Sadly, after quitting rugby, I also quit this form of self-care, and I believe it is no coincidence that I then journeyed through the darkest crevasses of my mental health.

I have thankfully emerged unharmed and now, having reflected, respected, and accepted, I am comfortable combining my experience with my passion to support others in their struggles, doubts, and pursuits of well-being.

Suicide accounts for between 75% and 80% of deaths in men under 50, and the rates continue to climb. This scares the shit out of me!

I am eager to dedicate time to help address this statistic and believe that team sports are one of many great ways that can have a profound impact. I look forward to working alongside teams and corporations to promote mental well-being as an integral part of their successes.

Watch this space. :)