The Power of Rugby: How Teamwork Builds Mental Health, Connection, and Camaraderie at SOHK
Rugby is more than a game. For many of the students we serve at School of Hard Knocks (SOHK), it is the heartbeat of healing. It is the rhythm that carries them forward when everything else in their world feels stuck. It is not just about tackling or scoring. It is about belonging. It is about trust. It is about being part of something bigger than yourself.
In South Africa, where challenges related to poverty, violence, gender-based trauma, and social exclusion run deep, sport becomes a lifeline. Rugby, in particular, offers a unique vehicle for emotional and mental transformation. On the field, boys and girls who once stood alone find teammates. They find structure. They find a way to feel strong and seen. They learn that progress is not about perfection. It is about showing up, again and again, together.
At SOHK, we harness the sport of rugby to teach far more than physical skill. We use it as a tool to unlock resilience, emotional awareness, leadership, and connection. Rugby becomes the gateway to trust. Trust becomes the foundation of change.
Why Rugby? Why Now?
South Africa has a deep-rooted relationship with rugby. The Springboks are not just a team. They are a symbol of hope, national pride, and unity. From township streets to dusty rural fields, rugby speaks a language everyone understands: discipline, strategy, grit, and passion.
But for our students, rugby represents something else, too. Stability. Accountability. A reason to show up. And in a time when so many young people are overwhelmed with stress, pressure, violence, and uncertainty, that consistency becomes sacred.
Mental health support is sorely lacking in many communities. In low-resource schools, counselors are almost nonexistent. Trauma goes untreated. Anxiety and depression go unspoken. The cost of silence is enormous.
That is where sport comes in.
Rugby as a Mental Health Tool
The structure of rugby offers powerful parallels to mental wellbeing:
Discipline helps with emotional regulation.
Teamwork fosters a sense of belonging.
Physical movement reduces stress and anxiety.
Shared goals help cultivate motivation and self-worth.
Leadership roles empower students who never felt seen.
We have found that students who participate in our rugby-based programming begin to show measurable improvements in:
Confidence and self-esteem
Ability to manage emotional triggers
Willingness to open up about personal struggles
Attendance and engagement in school
Peer relationships and conflict resolution
When we begin each session, we do not only warm up the body. We warm up the mind. Sessions begin with check-ins. Students are asked how they feel emotionally, not just physically. They are taught language to name emotions. They are encouraged to be honest about what they are carrying. They are reminded that the field is a safe place to release, to reflect, and to rebuild.
The Power of Camaraderie
For many young people, the idea of trust feels foreign. Some of them have never had adults who showed up consistently. Others have been let down by peers or caregivers. The streets teach them to be tough. Vulnerability becomes a liability.
But rugby flips that on its head.
In rugby, you have to trust your teammates. You must pass the ball. You have to communicate. You have to look someone in the eye and believe they will catch it, and believe they will be there for you.
That is not just a sporting technique. It is emotional rewiring.
One of our students, Mbulelo, once said after a match, “I never believed anyone would cover my back. Now I know I don’t have to fight alone.”
That moment captures what so many young people need. To be reminded that they are not alone. That they matter. That others will stand with them.
What the Science Says
According to the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, one in four teens is struggling with mental health challenges. Many are undiagnosed and unsupported. Suicide remains one of the leading causes of death among South African youth.
The World Health Organization recognizes that physical activity, especially team-based sport, is one of the most effective ways to combat youth depression, improve school engagement, and reduce risky behavior.
A study from the University of Pretoria found that adolescents who engaged in weekly team sports were significantly more likely to report feelings of belonging, purpose, and emotional wellbeing compared to their peers who were inactive.
This is not just feel-good messaging. It is evidence-based.
Rugby is not a luxury. It is a lifeline.
Stories From the Field
Siphesihle’s Story
Siphesihle was 13 when he joined SOHK. He had just moved from the Eastern Cape to live with extended family in Khayelitsha. He was struggling at school and had become completely withdrawn. He rarely spoke and often missed class. At home, he spent hours alone, scrolling through TikTok, trying to escape his reality.
When he first came to SOHK’s rugby sessions, he stood on the sidelines. He told us he was too small to play. But we saw something else in him. We kept inviting him in.
Over the weeks, Siphesihle began to open up. Not all at once, but slowly. He liked watching Cheslin Kolbe highlights. He said, “He’s not big, but he’s fast. He makes it.” That was the beginning.
Soon, Siphesihle was joining drills. He was running, smiling, shouting encouragement to teammates. By the end of the term, he told us, “Rugby helps me remember I am still a kid. It helps me forget the things that make me sad.”
That transformation was not just athletic. It was emotional. Rugby helped Siphesihle connect with himself, with others, and with hope.
Zanele’s Strength
Zanele, one of our female athletes, joined SOHK after experiencing bullying and harassment at school. She was quiet but powerful. On the field, she became a force of nature. She told us, “Rugby teaches me that being strong is not something I have to apologize for.”
Her confidence grew. She began mentoring younger girls. She started speaking up during mental health workshops. She even led a session on how to handle stress during exam season.
Zanele’s story reminds us that rugby is not just for boys. It is for anyone who needs to feel grounded, brave, and heard.
Our Curriculum: Tackling Trauma Together
At SOHK, our rugby sessions are always paired with our Trauma-Informed Life Skills Curriculum. We do not separate mental health from the game. We make it part of the game.
After each match or drill, we debrief. What came up for you emotionally? Did you feel angry, frustrated, excited, nervous? How did you handle that? What helped? What didn’t?
We use the game as a mirror.
Our coaches are trained in mental health first aid, trauma awareness, and active listening. They know when to push, when to pause, and when to check in.
We also host community circles where students can share stories, reflect on their week, and offer support to each other. These moments are just as powerful as any try or tackle.
Creating a Generation That Connects
When young people experience connection, trust, and teamwork on the field, they bring that energy into their daily lives.
We have seen:
Students help classmates with homework when they used to compete
Boys open up to female teammates with respect and curiosity
Girls lead training sessions with pride and assertiveness
Former bullies become peer mentors
Families report fewer emotional outbursts and more openness at home
We are not creating perfect people. We are creating connected ones. People who can take responsibility, express emotions, ask for help, and work in teams. That is the foundation of every healthy society.
How You Can Support This Work
We need your help to expand this mission.
Donate to help us provide uniforms, equipment, transport, food, and coaching
Sponsor a Team in your local area
Become a Volunteer Coach or Mental Health Mentor
Share Our Work on social media or in your networks
Host a Fundraiser for our sports and mental health programs
Every tackle, every try, every conversation on the field is made possible by people like you. Your support turns hope into habit.
Looking Ahead
We believe in a South Africa where no child feels alone. Where rugby fields become sanctuaries. Where mental health is not taboo. Where teamwork replaces trauma. Where connection replaces isolation.
With your support, we are not just raising athletes. We are raising leaders, friends, brothers, sisters, and change-makers.
Join us.
The next try scored could be the turning point in someone’s life.