When the final whistle blows: Why mental wellbeing matters

The player behind the jersey

Dr André Botha, team doctor for the Dotsure SWD Eagles, sees this first-hand.

With a background in general practice and sports and exercise medicine, Dr Botha looks after the physical health of the players, from injury prevention and rehabilitation to medical assessments and return-to-play decisions. But his role also extends to recognising when a player may be struggling psychologically.

“I don’t believe you can meaningfully separate physical health from mental health,” he says.

That is particularly relevant in professional sport, where physical and psychological pressures often overlap.

A player dealing with an injury may also be worried about losing their place in the team. A player who is dropped may question their future. Someone facing a short-term contract may be carrying financial and career uncertainty alongside the pressure to perform.

Then there is the scrutiny that comes with playing professional sport.

A good performance can bring praise. A poor one can bring criticism, particularly on social media. For players, learning to separate criticism of a performance from criticism of themselves can be difficult.

When pressure is part of the job

Matthew Gray, a lock for the Dotsure SWD Eagles, knows about the ups and downs of a professional rugby career.

His journey has taken him from Maties to the Pumas and Griffons, where he won the First Division in 2025, before joining SWD in 2026 and winning again.

But his path has not been without setbacks.

Team doctor Dr André Botha says mental wellbeing should be treated with the same proactive approach as physical health.

In 2023, after playing every game during a successful previous season, Gray played just 20 minutes during the Varsity Cup campaign because of non-selection. At the time, he says, he could not see a way forward.
He kept going. Later that same year, he was named captain under a new coach.

That doesn’t mean pretending setbacks don’t hurt. In fact, Dr Botha believes disappointment after a defeat is a normal and healthy response.

“The important thing is what happens next.”

Players need space to feel disappointed before turning their attention towards what they can learn, what they can control, and what they can do differently.

Building mental resilience early

The approach to mental wellbeing extends beyond the rugby field. At Dotsure, employee wellbeing is supported through an Employee Assistance Programme that provides confidential support, including counselling and referrals to other wellness professionals where appropriate.

The company also encourages leadership to make space for regular check-ins and honest conversations when pressure becomes too much.

It is an approach that recognises that wellbeing needs ongoing attention, rather than becoming a conversation only during Mental Health Awareness Month.

For employees, that means having access to support and feeling able to ask for it without worrying about being judged or seen as less capable.

Dotsure SWD Eagles lock, Matthew Gray.

What rugby can teach us about recovery

Professional athletes are often expected to keep pushing. Train harder. Recover faster. Get back on the field.

But Dr Botha has a useful reminder, that recovery is part of performance.

The same principle applies to the rest of us. Constantly pushing without making space to recover eventually takes its toll.

Mental strength does not mean never having a difficult day, feeling disappointed, or needing support.
It means having the tools to work through those moments and keep moving forward.

For the Dotsure SWD Eagles, the next challenge will always be waiting after the final whistle.

The Dotsure SWD Eagles Leadership place a strong emphasis on team culture and creating an environment where players can ask for support. In this photo from left to right: Reg Müller (Technical Adviser & Assistant Coach), Erica Marthinus (Team Physiotherapist), Jacquin Marthinus (Strength & Conditioning Coach), Martin-John de Vos (Team Manager), Heyneke Meyer (Head Coach), Vic Meyer (Forwards & Attack Coach), Ryan Nell (Backline & Defence Coach), and André Botha (Team Doctor).