Ross van Reenen’s From Locker Room to Boardroom Launched at MolenVliet

 
The launch last week of From Locker Room to Boardroom: Converting Rugby Talent Into Business Success by Ross van Reenen was held – most fittingly – at MolenVliet, the luxurious wine farm of former prop, Ockie Oosthuizen. The author was joined by a host of former players who have gone on to prove that there is, indeed, life after rugby.

Emceeing the event was well known sports commentator, Dan Retief, who is also author of The Springboks and the Holy Grail.

Van Reenen spoke with great passion about what happens to rugby stars when they hang up their boots. He sees the need to establish a foundation to look after rugby players who are stars today but gone tomorrow. The author said, “I want to set up structures to see rugby players are supported to start educating themselves at a very early age. If that guy is contacted as a school boy I want to see that there is a clause in his contract that he has to study… that he has to complete some education.

“We need to look after our young players because when they play rugby they are immortal. Life will never end. They earn this massive salary. They are on TV, a hero, a celebrity. But the reality is not good. We will start this foundation very soon to ensure that there is an opportunity, a solution for this problem.”

Keynote speaker Gert Oosthuizen, Deputy Minister of the Department of Sport and Recreation, offered heartening intentions for the future of rugby in particular and sport in general, referring to the National Sport and Recreation Plan (NSRP) as outlined at the Indaba hosted in November last year.

He promised that physical education is to be re-introduced into the education system. He is committed to ensuring that the necessary financial resources will be provided. This received a hearty round of applause from all present. He reiterated his vision of creating a Youth Games with the goal of enhancing the value of sport at school level, and with the added goal of tackling the problem of childhood obesity.

Guests and fans bought copies of the book, which the author signed while sipping the superlative wines from the MolenVleit wine estate.

Liesl Jobson tweeted from the launch using #livebooks:

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Book details

• From Locker Room to Boardroom: Converting Rugby Talent Into Business Success by Ross van Reenen
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  EAN: 9781770223318
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