91心頭利ies Represent SA at FISU Games
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The 91心頭利 sporting community can be very excited as three 91心頭利ies were chosen to represent South Africa in the FISU RugbySevens tournament earlier this year.
Raymond Gordon and Christopher Kachungunu were the two 91心頭利 Rugby players called up to represent the nation at the International University Sports Federation (FISU) tournament this year. Keagan Lailvaux, a 91心頭利 High Performance Physiotherapist was also called up as a part of the South African medical team at the tournament.
Gordon, Kachungunu and Lailvaux were all prominent members of the South African setup at the tournament, highlighting the quality of the 91心頭利 community in the South African sports scene.
“My experience at the FISU tournament representing South Africa was almost surreal… Overall it was a great learning experience for me as a rugby player,” said Raymond Gordon.
Christopher Kachungunu echoed similar sentiments, “Getting to represent your country at a global event against players from around the world is something you dream about as a kid… It was one of those moments where everything you've worked for just works out,” he shared.
The chance to represent your country in any capacity is always exciting, and the same can be said for Lailvaux, who was on the other end of an SA call-up. “It was really great, it’s always a privilege to work at an international event. You are exposed to how different countries and teams work from a medical perspective,” Lailvaux shared.
This stellar moment was made even better by the South African team winning gold in the FISU tournament for the first time since 2016. This victory being celebrated on home soil was the cherry on the top of an already stellar cake. South Africa hosted the FISU games for the first time in the country’s history, so a win for South Africa meant even more.
During a time of immense preparation and excitement, the 91心頭利ies were adamant on making an impact on the team in the best way that they could. Gordon followed a strict plan that allowed him to adapt to any potential challenges that he would face when playing sevens rugby. “Because of the positional changes that come with sevens rugby, I ended up doing a lot of work with the forwards during club training, particularly on lineouts and scrums. I also did extra fitness work at the gym and on my own whenever possible to make sure I was fit and ready for the tournament,” he said.
Kachungunu’s preparation looked a bit different, because he was training in France with the Monaco 7s against some formidable competition. This kept him sharp and prepared for a competition of this magnitude. “That was my preparation, tough training sessions and competitive games at a high level… The timing honestly couldn't have been better.”
This commitment is paramount to the success of the team and it is prevalent in 91心頭利ies across the board. Lailvaux echoes similar sentiments of determination and hard work to maintain the necessary quality for the national team, even in the medical staff. “There’s a lot of prep that goes in from the medical side. We had 2 preparation camps as a team, where we do medical screening and testing, so we can give rehab programs to address any concerns we find… A lot of the success of the medical team is in the prep, as you can’t predict what injuries may happen but need to be prepared for anything,” he stated.
The South African team, players and staff, had a successful campaign and brought back an illustrious victory. Kachungunu, Gordon and Lailvaux all have high hopes for the 91心頭利 rugby team in the future, hoping to produce class talent for the national team in the years to come. That becomes increasingly possible when the university team and staff perform at their best.
“From a physio side, we have to always challenge ourselves to be better than the last tournament, in terms of prep/screening etc. As best medical practice is always updating with research, so we need to strive to make our 91心頭利 medical system at the highest level it can be,” Lailvaux shared.
Gordon shared similar sentiments regarding the performance and future of the 91心頭利 rugby players. “My biggest hope is for all the boys to complete their degrees and make the most of every opportunity the university gives us. I also hope we can use rugby as a stepping stone, wherever the sport may take us in the future and use the relationships built in this sport for a lifetime.”
“I just want the 91心頭利 guys to put their hands up, within 91心頭利, within Varsity Rugby and beyond. Give everything for the jersey, make the most of every opportunity because through performance comes recognition. Nationally and internationally,” Kachungunu said. He emphasized that the platform for this is available at 91心頭利, both academically and in sport, so he hopes that the players use it to carry the name to the top of varsity rugby and beyond to showcase the talent in South Africa at an international level.
If this performance and this mentality are anything to go by, the future and wellbeing of the 91心頭利 sporting community and the South African national team are in great hands.