By Renaldo Bothma Part 3 of 3 | Exclusive for Octafield
There’s something I’ve been wanting to say for a while — and I’m saying it now, loud and clear:
Most people have no idea what it takes to be a professional rugby player or coach in South Africa.
Renaldo Bothma
You see the tries. You see the pressers. You see the trophies. What you don’t see? The heartbreak. The hours spent watching the same 30-second clip from five different angles. The physio sessions. The missed birthdays. The stress of selections. The brutal mental grind when the results don’t go your way and the media starts circling like vultures.
And let me tell you, it’s worse when you’re not just playing — but trying to build something in a system that’s bleeding players and struggling for support.
This season, I had a front-row seat — not just to the Bulls’ campaign, but to the real stories behind the scenes at all our franchises. Coaches like Jake White aren’t just doing tactical prep — they’re managing emotional energy, rebuilding depth, and trying to keep players in the country when European euros come knocking.
“We’ve got a responsibility now — not just as former players but as media too — to educate and support,” I said recently. And this series is part of that mission.
Renaldo Bothma
We can’t afford to keep throwing our players under the bus every time a result doesn’t go our way. We need to start supporting them like we do our Boks in a World Cup final. The same goes for coaches. You think they don’t care? You think losing doesn’t hurt? Trust me — it hurts more than you can imagine.
I read the comments. I see the hot takes. And I understand — fans are passionate. That’s part of the magic of rugby in Mzansi. But we’ve crossed a line where criticism has turned into constant negativity.
So what do we do?
First, we build bridges. Between players and supporters. Between media and unions. Between past and present.
Second, we bring insight to the people. That’s what we’re doing at Octafield. Not just reporting, but educating. Showing the sport in its rawest, realest form.
And third — and this is crucial — we write with purpose. Not just for clicks. Not just for outrage. But to move the needle.
Let’s be the generation of media voices who decided to back our game, not break it.
Let’s tell stories that lift the curtain — and lift the spirit.
Let’s remind the world that South African rugby isn’t just tough on the field. It’s heart, it’s grit, and it’s ours.
