The roar of the crowd, the thrill of the game, the taste of victory – these were the lifeblood that fuelled rugby legend Bryan Habana through a storied career. But when the time came to hang up his boots, South Africa’s superstar winger faced a daunting question: What next?
“It felt like someone had just ripped the purpose from my life,” Habana admits, voicing a sentiment many retirees can relate to. The end of a long-held career, whether in sports, business, education, or any other field, often leaves a void that was once filled by daily routines, challenges, and achievements.
For the elite athlete who had chased greatness for so long, the adrenaline-deprived days of retirement felt like gasping for air. Yet far from surrendering to that emptiness, the man whose blinding pace terrorised defences across the globe refused to be outpaced by his new circumstances. “You can get caught in the negatives, or you can focus on the positives, and embrace change” Habana says. “I chose to run towards new opportunities.”
For the Rugby World Cup winner, retirement from the sport sparked not a wistful look back but a panoramic view ahead – of passions to pursue, lives to inspire, and legacies to build beyond the adoring crowds. He studied business and pursued new entrepreneurial ventures with the same tenacity that saw him regularly cross the try line.
In addition, Habana’s journey sheds light on the importance of financial preparedness, a critical aspect of retirement planning. “Early in my career, earning a CEO’s salary as a 23-year-old, I wasn’t exactly wise with my money. I’d never been taught good financial habits and then, once I retired, people warned me, ‘You’ve only got money for four more years of this lifestyle,'” Habana remembers with a laugh. “Fortunately I had those people who mentored me and gave me good financial advice. This has allowed me to make a new lifestyle for myself.”
His journey offers hope to all facing their own new beginnings, encouraging retirees to view this phase of life not as an end but as the beginning of a new adventure filled with potential for discovery, joy, and impact. Whether it’s volunteering, pursuing a long-delayed passion, mentoring the next generation, or simply connecting with family and friends on a deeper level, the possibilities are endless. As he says, “I loved rugby but I’m just getting started with the rest of my life.”
So, let us take a leaf out of Bryan Habana’s playbook. By getting the right financial advice, maintaining a positive outlook, embracing change, and actively seeking new purposes and opportunities for engagement, we too can find fulfilment and happiness in this significant phase of our lives. Retirement, he reminds us, isn’t the end of the game, it’s a call to take the next gap. You have many more tries to be scored!
