The Advertiser speaks to Kaylee, EG Jansen’s own rugby star

The Advertiser met up with Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen rugby star Kaylee van Staden to find out more about her rugby journey.

She was one of the finalists for Sports Women of the Year at this year’s Ekurhuleni Sports Awards. Van Staden (18) was picked from 206 nominees and made it as one of the three finalists. Unfortunately, she didn’t go all the way, but said she got as far as she could.

“It was a really big thing for me because I want people to see anything is possible. I want to encourage other women to go as far as their dreams,” she expressed. Among other topics, van Staden also revealed why she decided to play what is widely regarded as a man’s game and how she became a rugby hero at her school, where she’s completing her matric year.

How did it start?

I started playing rugby last year. I first played with boys because I was always interested in playing rugby. I started a rugby team at EG Jansen because there were other teams from different schools who were interested in playing against us. So last year I started a team and we entered the IC Nissan Sevens Tournament and I had a team of about 12. We played and won the tournament; there were six schools and we only had a week to prepare. I coached the team myself. I was also playing for the Valke u-18s and I was captain there; we finished second in League Two. I was then nominated at the Valke and got a chance to be a Blue Bulls player, so I moved to Tuks. I started playing rugby there for the u-18s and I also represented Brakpan Rugby Club for the u-18 side there. So much happened in a year: I was selected for three different teams so it was hectic but at the moment, I’m waiting because I had to do a virtual test to be nominated as an international player for Tuks. So, yes, it just happened so quickly, but here at EG Jansen I’m going to start coaching again because I can’t play for the school anymore if I’m going to play for Tuks.

How do you balance your rugby and your schoolwork?

If the commitment is there and you have your set of goals, it’s possible. I have a programme: I go to school from 8am to 2pm, then I have practise here at school from 2.15pm to 4pm, then I go home and study for an hour and do my homework. Then from 6pm, I have rugby practise at Tuks and I get home around 10pm.

Where’s home?

I live in Brakpan now, but used to stay in Boksburg.

What position do you play?

At the moment I play number two, hooker.

How do you keep fit?

I train according to a programme that Tuks gave me. I can’t even describe to you how difficult some of the stuff on the programme is but fitness and skills are the biggest focus. Mondays and Wednesdays I practise rugby, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays I go to the gym – with legs being the focus in most cases. Fridays are my off days.

What is it about rugby that caught your interest?

Firstly, there’s this thing between women and men where men say women can’t do certain things, so I wanted to show people men can do what women do and women can do what men do and there must be equality between men and women because I believe we’re all the same. And the passion for the game: I love the game, I love watching it and I love playing it.

What professional team do you support?

The Springboks and the Blue Bulls.

Who is your favourite Springbok and why?

Babalwa Latsha, the women’s captain of the Springboks team. She plays the game for the same reasons I do – to create equality between men and women. I want to develop and inspire other girls to not stand back when they say you can’t do it. Go out there and do it.

How far are you willing to take your rugby career?

I really want to make it to the Springboks women side. I’m training very hard to get there. Sometimes it’s tough and seems impossible but I just keep on going.

Looking at the male game, who is your favourite Bok player and why?

Duane Vermeulen. He’s very professional and has all the skills of a rugby player.

What are you studying towards?

I want to become a sports physician. I’m a sporty woman and sitting in an office for the whole day is not me.

Women’s rugby remains widely unknown, what do you think the problem is?

I think it’s because people don’t see women as rugby players, but it’s growing and will become a very big thing in years to come.

Do you also play 80 minutes at your level?

No, we play 60 minutes.

What’s been the highlight of your young rugby career?

Starting a team at EG Jansen. Some girls always came and asked when I was going to start a team until one day I took the step and went to speak to the headmaster and told him the girls really want to play rugby and I’m more than willing to coach them. He agreed and said as long as it didn’t interfere with other sports. To see their happiness made me feel really happy. I got the chance to do something for someone else.

What would you say are the biggest challenges of being a female rugby player?

Being judged: a lot of people tell you that playing rugby is not what you’re supposed to do, rugby isn’t for girls.

How does your family feel about you playing rugby?

They’ve always been supportive of my decisions. My first game, my whole family was there and they were actually shocked because they didn’t think I would do as good as Idid. Now they come to every game I play.

When was your first game?

It was last year March. It was scary because I had never played an actual game before. But I was confident because I knew the basic stuff and I knew what do. But there were moments where I’d wonder if my positioning is right and whether I could really do it but after the first tackle, I was all in the game and it just came to me.

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