Local rugby player shares the importance of keeping fit

For any sportsperson, exercising and keeping fit is an important aspect. This is no different for Michael Tolmay from the Randfontein Rugby Club.

The 27-year-old has been playing rugby since primary school days and currently plays for the first team at the club.

“People always say the way you exercise is the way you play, but for me, fitness is a character thing. Fitness can take you to a dark place, but if you are willing to go there, you would be willing to work a bit harder in a game when you encounter the same difficulty,” Michael explained.

For him, being fit is similar to playing, as you would be prepared to chase someone for a longer distance.

For a rugby player, he added it is not only about the person with the ball but also the person next to him. Being fit helps you condition your body to avoid injuries, and get your body to do what you tell it.

“A rugby game is not about you. Rugby is a team sport, if you are fit you can support the person next to you. If that person slips you can support them.”

To keep fit, he joins in on the rugby practices hosted by the club and also works out on his own. He visits the gym often and noted it involves more than just doing weights, but actively keeping fit.

He mentioned the importance of also keeping his mind healthy and fit. Every month his friends’ group comes together for a challenge day where they do something different and where they challenge their minds.

“I’m not a psychiatrist, but I can tell when I am not mentally fit. How I ensure I stay mentally fit is my relationship with God. If that’s not in place, everything feels out of place.”

Regarding his dietary fitness, he says he ‘simply eats whatever is on his plate,’ he laughed.