Hlungwane On Mignoni And Rugby Mental Health

DHL Stormers forwards coach Rito Hlungwane has called for a radical shift in how rugby unions approach mental health, urging the sport to implement robust support structures for coaches following the recent mid-season “breakdown” of a high-profile peer.

Elite-level coaching is often described as a pressure cooker, and the rugby world was recently reminded of that reality when Toulon head coach Pierre Mignoni took a three-week hiatus after suffering a ‘breakdown’ following his side’s defeat to Clermont in the French Top 14 on 14 February.

Toulon, currently eleventh in the 14-team Top 14 standings and winless in their last five matches, is preparing to host the DHL Stormers in the round of 16 of the Investec Champions Cup at Stade Mayol on Saturday.

With the Stormers under constant pressure to deliver results week in and week out, Hlungwane emphasised that the burden is not only carried by players, but by coaches as well.

In an era where performances are intensely scrutinised, even victories can come with criticism – whether it’s about the style of play or expectations around how wins are achieved.

“It is a massive challenge in sport,” said Hlungwane.

“It’s one thing to lose a game and feel the pressure, but sometimes you win and still feel that pressure,” he added.

“There can be much better support for coaches in these types of environments,” Hlungwane urged. 

Hlungwane also highlighted the personal sacrifices made by players, coaches, and their families – sacrifices that are amplified during overseas tours such as the Stormers’ current trip to France.

“Öur families are also part of this,” he said. “We can go to France and do a good job, but I have three kids at home that I have to leave. If it wasn’t for my better half looking after the kids and the household, I couldn’t perform as well.”

“Same thing for all our players. Hacjivah Dayimani has a young boy, Neethling Fouche has two young kids, Ruan has a young kid – so all those things build up into pressure when you leave your family.”

“The support is extremely important for the coaches and the players because, as much as we love it, this is a high-pressure environment.”

“It’s important that we as teams and unions start investing more in making sure that we look at mental health with a very serious eye,” Hlungwane urged.