Simon Thomas - Crusaders S&C coach and St. Bede's old boy
Looking back on his time at St. Bede's
1) What are your memories of playing rugby at St. Bede's?
Some of my favourite memories of playing rugby at St. Bede’s are the informal “touch” games at lunchtime with friends on the front field. With the level of tackle vs touch varying based on the proximity of teachers roaming past on duty. Informal games, highly competitive and enjoyable ending in grass stained shorts and shirts.
In my first year at St. Bede’s in 1998 I was devastated to put in the Under 14D’s after the trials, coming from a rep playing background before arriving. This was a great character building exercise for me to swallow that disappointment and front up for that team. Week in, week out tackling everything that moved and wanting to prove the selectors wrong.
My 1st XV year in 2002 was another great learning experience, proud to have risen from the days of the Under 14D’s right up to the 1st XV, but with the reality of not playing many minutes or games as there were better players than myself there.
Having been surpassed by Takashi Sakuma, a very talented Japanese visiting player (the 2003 Japan Schoolboys vice-captain) I decided to focus on being a team man in every way I could find. The resilience of character I learned by things not going the way I would have hoped probably fostered a drive in me to put the team ahead of myself and get on with my job regardless of where I sat within the team. That probably still sits with me in the way I operate today as part of a team.
2) What stimulated you to go down the S&C coaching path?
The S&C coaching path for me came about from initially wanting to study physiotherapy in Otago, but then being selected to represent St. Bede’s on a gap year at Rockwell College over in Ireland. While over there I experienced a more professional structure while training within the Munster U21 squad which opened my eyes to S&C coaching even being a possible role as well supervising PE and coaching rugby, my eyes were opened to a new way to remain involved in sport with more of a coaching and training element than a medical one.
I also didn’t want to have to do placements in a hospital setting, my drive was to be involved 100% in sport, ideally rugby and follow the pathway that I wasn’t talented enough to progress on as a player.
When I came home from the year in Ireland I enrolled to study a sport & exercise science qualification in Nelson, this timed well with the creation of the Tasman Rugby Union and the Mako team. So my study allowed some voluntary work experience within development structures, which progressed into a job and my first step on the pathway, including spending some time observing some Crusaders training weeks which solidified my goal of where I wanted to go and what I wanted to do. So I remained in Nelson to complete my degree while working with Tasman learning further on the job, taking every opportunity I could to learn and grow.
3) What advice do you have for our current players at St. Bede's based on your experience with the Crusaders?
My main advice for current players at St Bede’s based on my experience with the Crusaders, from Academy right through to team, is to have identified your interests and passions outside rugby as well as remembering why you love to play the game in the first place. These are the elements that drive you to keep going when setbacks occur.
Having a focus outside rugby allows you to fully engage with the game when the time comes to train hard and get better, to commit to it when it matters most.
If the goal is to play rugby professionally, find the elements within school that contribute to that goal off the field. Finding a way through that difficult feeling of being nervous delivering a speech in front of a group for an English assignment develops your ability to deliver a defensive plan in a team meeting for example.
Also don’t expect the journey to be a straight line, whether within a single season or the progression of a career. The bumps and turns provide opportunities to grow and be open to adapting your plan and pathway when unexpected opportunities arise.
But don’t forget that before all of the coaching and all of the structure and rugby playing career goals, you started playing for those enjoyable times getting grass stains on your shorts and shirt with your mates.
An interesting article featuring Simon:
