JUNE/JULY 2015 // NZ RUGBY WORLD //

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Following the panel discussions, the

attendees were invited to a workshop on career

planning, with 23 players taking the chance to

identify skills, values and drivers, which they

then matched to potential industries.

Hurricanes PDM Stephen Symonds said

the whole day was really well received, with

the former players in particular riveting their

audience.

“We are at a stage now where we have good role

models who have left the game that can teach

what they have learned,” Symonds reported.

“The single biggest learning for me from the

day was the impact past players have. You could

have heard a pin drop when they were talking -

rugby players maintain respect for rugby players

and if we tap into that the right way, we can shift

attitudes and thinking.”

That suits Steinmetz too, who fully supports

the work PDMs do.

“I’d be happy to help further and get into things

a bit more personally and the general feeling of

guys outside the game now is that they’re really

willing to get back in and help with this sort of

thing. It’s quite nice to know that what we’re doing

could be useful to younger guys.”

“That’s one

downside to cutting

ties here – you’ve

got to come back

and start again with

your networking

and you don’t really

realise that until

you’re out of it,”

PAUL STEINMETZ