As part of our Year 13 Health class, where we are learning about how gambling is a health issue in NZ, we were lucky enough to have current Crusaders player James O’Connor and Crusaders assistant coach Brad Mooar visit our class. Brad, an old boy of Christchurch Boys' High, shared his insights alongside James on the topic of gambling, both in NZ and the wider rugby community.

James spoke about the pressure he faced throughout his career and the struggles his friends have faced, including the challenges he has seen from his teammates related to gambling. He also opened up about his personal life, sharing how he handled these struggles. His honesty about the ups and downs of his career gave us a deeper understanding of the pressures athletes endure and the importance of resilience and support when facing tough times.

Brad reinforced the importance of education and support systems in making smart choices around gambling and other health challenges. Both speakers answered our questions honestly, giving us a real and relatable understanding of the issue.

Hearing from people who have encountered these challenges firsthand was an eye-opening experience and gave us a lot to think about as we work on our assessment. Their insights helped us see the bigger picture of gambling as a health issue, not just throughout life in sport but throughout everybody's lives.