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PLAYERS PERSPECTIVE WITH ANDY ELLIS 2013 ITM CUP PLAYER OF YEAR NDY ELLIS IS AN ABSOLUTE I realise that it provided me with good After finding out I didn’t make the team ACHARACTER OF THE GAME. AN discipline and work ethic. It made me I was driving home absolutely gutted AWARD WINNING LANDSCAPE appreciate that there were no short cuts and I pulled my car over and thought GARDENER, A FORMER MORNING RADIO - you simply have to work pretty hard. to myself, I have a decision to make HOST AND BAND MEMBER, A FATHER When you decide to throw everything here, will I stay positive and fight hard AND HUSBAND WHO HAS RACKED UP at something, or really want to achieve for my goals, or will I throw the towel OVER 150 SUPER RUGBY MATCHES a goal it is important to write down in and focus on something else? I will FOR THE CRUSADERS. WE CATCH UP what that commitment looks like. Ask give it everything I’ve got and have no WITH THE CANTERBURY RUGBY ICON yourself how motivated am I to do it? regrets. I couldn’t control the selection AND FORMER ALL BLACK HALFBACK Does it mean I am up earlier to train? By but I could control my attitude. I had BEFORE HE HEADS BACK TO JAPAN FOR writing it down you can’t escape from the decision what my attitude was TWO MORE SEASONS WITH THE KOBE your plan – you can’t hide from it. This going to be, so I really embraced the STEELERS TO SHARE WHAT HE HAS is slightly different from the idea of challenged, worked really hard and had LEARNED IN HIS 13 YEARS PLAYING choosing something when I was young no regrets. By doing this, I knew I had RUGBY IN NEW ZEALAND. and my parents making me stick to it. done everything in my control and would When I got to an age where I really knew see where it would lead. Off the back of ON COMMITMENT what I wanted then I was able to set that I got a few opportunities. I had the I was lucky that I grew up in a positive goals, and write down what the process right coaches at the right games and got environment, but my parents were into looked like. my chance. commitment. If I ever decided I was I ended up playing for the teams I had going to give something a go, I had to COPING WITH DISAPPOINTMENT dreamed of playing for and although in give it a bloody good go and be highly I think as a young player it is tough reality it wasn’t always a smooth run committed. because you work hard for certain there were some incredible moments. I remember that I decided I wanted to things and they don’t always go how try and learn the piano, so I ended up you want them to. One of the biggest ON PERSPECTIVE doing it for four years! I soon learned disappointments for me was missing out I always tried to put things in that I had to be careful what I decided to on the Canterbury U19 team. I thought perspective and my wife was really have a crack at because Mum and Dad if I can’t make it to the U19 team then I supportive in that. When I didn’t were going to make me stick at it. Now can’t make it beyond that. get back in the All Blacks I still had 80 | NZ RUGBY WORLD | APRIL/MAY 2016 other wonderful teams to play It is a difficult when you don’t know in so concentrated on that. It is when your career is going to end important to make peace with and that could be through injury or the outcomes out of your control deselection which are out of your and focus on the positives and control so you have to be prepared. appreciate the things you have. As a player you do a lot of With the All Blacks I never got a promotional events which can help clean run. When you’re young if you with your networking for future get injured or are not selected it is careers. I have got interests in going to be tough to take and you many areas so it is quite exciting. will watch your team mates, but I have always tried to say yes to you have to use that as motivation. opportunities I have been given You have got a genuine choice – you because I know they have been able can either work really hard to come to open some doors. I enjoy learning back and be a better player or you ANDY ELLIS IN 2006 WITH about new things, experiencing new can give up. If you choose the first THE DAVE GALLAHER TROPHY things and meeting different people. FRANCE V NEW ZEALAND option you have no regrets and then it makes it easier to be a peace with It would enable me to thrive more in ON HIS JOURNEY yourself. This certainly comes with training because I was mentally in It is important to enjoy the social experience and age. the zone when I was at training. aspect with rugby because the When I was doing landscaping for friendships and connections are one garden shows I would finish training of the things I will take away from after doing work on’s and then go rugby. You are always surrounded and do landscaping work for the with people from different shows. When you are training environments which is stimulating you have to give it everything that and as a player you know it is is how you become the best you not forever, so it is important to have to make sacrifices through network and make connections for decisions. life after rugby. I spent a week in the Baa baas, it ON SOCIAL MEDIA was such a fun week and I made Interestingly Andy has no social great connections and really media. I am a bit old fashion. I see enjoy seeing the guys after the guys come off the field and the games now. Rugby provides great first thing they do is check their friendships and it is those that I will 2011 RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL phones. I am lucky if I get a few text last long beyond the playing days. messages! I see a place for social ON HAVING BALANCE media and it has some real positives ON HIS JOURNEY Having a balance puts the rugby for connecting to the fans but for It is essential to have a good solid stuff in a better perspective. me I would rather live in the actual support network that will be there When I am busy outside of rugby moment. through thick and thin. I am lucky I find I am more connected my family and wife have been rock when I go to training. Rugby is PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT solid so I am very grateful for that. an intense environment so it is The Personal Development You learn a lot of your wisdom later important to have things going Managers really help with the in your career. I make sure that I on outside of rugby so you keep it stuff when you get into the adult really enjoy the moment, embrace all in perspective and it helps the world. They can help with things it and try to enjoy it. Ride it with a enjoyment. I am a person who likes you previously might not have not smile on your face. being busy and I think that holds you had to think about like insurances, in good stead for life after rugby. houses, wills, finances and careers. I was doing morning radio before You get good support to make good training every day and I really decisions. As a professional player enjoyed it and found it a great way you can get fast forward into having to start the day. to make big decisions quickly so it is important to tap into those resources around you. It is important to think about what you are going to do after rugby. Even if it is not set in stone, just so a player can genuinely have an idea in the back of your head. It sews the seed. You have to talk about a plan, even on a causal basis then you are not losing sight that you have to have something after ANDY ELLIS AND RICHIE MCCAW, EDEN rugby. Verbalising your plans helps. PARK, 2011 RUGBY WORLD CUP FINAL APRIL/MAY 2016 | NZ RUGBY WORLD | 81 THE ADIDAS ATHLETETARANAKI DIDAS HAVE A LONG ASSOCIATION Derrick Rose and Lionel Messi. From New Zealand WITH SPORTS AROUND THE GLOBE they have Dan Carter and Sonny Bill Williams in their AND CAREFULLY SELECT PLAYERS stable. TO REPRESENT THEIR BRAND AS ADIDAS sponsor over 56 different types of sports AMBASSADORS.A THEY HAVE JUST EXTENDED around the world including the All Blacks, Real THEIR LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIP WITH THE NEW Madrid, Manchester United and Chelsea football ZEALAND RUGBY PLAYERS ASSOCIATION (NZRPA) teams. It is a €17 Billion business which has REINFORCING HOW HIGHLY SUPPORTIVE THEY ARE recorded impressive global currency neutral profits OF PLAYER EDUCATION. THEY STATE THE REASON the last financial year of €720 Million. THEY SUPPORT THE NZRPA IS BECAUSE FOR ADIDAS, What do they look for when they are choosing BEING PROFESSIONAL OFF THE FIELD IS JUST AS people and organisations to associate their brand IMPORTANT AS BEING PROFESSIONAL ON THE FIELD.

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