6 career change lessons from the 6 Nations

Even for those who don’t follow rugby, there’s a lot we can learn from this year’s tournament, especially in the context of making a career change. 
For those of us on the verge of making a change, , it can feel a bit like walking onto the pitch for the first time, not knowing what to expect. Here are 6 things that we can learn from players who know that feeling well…

1.    Don’t be afraid to switch things up 

This year, every team embraced change and reaped the rewards by inviting fresh talent and new players onto the pitch. It was refreshing to see the games rejuvenated by an injection of impressive young talent, such as France’s man-of-the-match, Nolann Le Garrac, only 21 years old, and Welsh flanker, Alex Mann, 22. In the past, teams have perhaps relied too-heavily on familiar faces, but this year have been rewarded for their decision to welcome new caps to the games. 
Switching things up enables us to test our limits, rethink our perspective and, like Le Garrac, demonstrate our skills in new and exciting ways. While it can be daunting to move away from what you know, shaking things up may, in turn, offer rewards that you could only dream of – just ask the Italian winger, Lewis Lynagh, who scored the winning try against Scotland on his debut!

2.    Take calculated risks 

Scotland’s winger, Duhan Van Der Merwa, became the first Scottish player ever to score a hat-trick of tries in a Calcutta Cup match by capitalising on risk. He scored three audacious tries against the England team, some from within his own half. Van Der Merwa’s willingness to take on a 60 metre sprint, English defenders and the inherent risk of losing possession is what makes him such a formidable player. When making a career change, we also need to be willing to take calculated risks to pursue new opportunities. This might involve leaving a stable job to pursue a passion, start a business or transition to a new industry where success is not guaranteed.  

3.    Expect to fall down – but get back up 

In the 84th minute of the Italy v England game, a crafty knock to the Italian number 11’s foot caused him to fall mere meters from the try line. But Monty Ioane wasted no time springing back to his feet and flying past the English players who were chasing him down, racing to score the final try of the match. If Ioane had allowed his earlier fall to set him back, the try that changed the Italy v England scoreboard from 17-27 to 24-27 would almost certainly never have been scored. 
A similar approach should be taken for those considering a career change. When facing into any kind of change, you should expect to face challenges and setbacks, just like Monty Ioane. And, like him, you must be willing to get back up again and go after your goal; it’s not how you go down, it’s how you get back up that matters.

4.    It’s never too late to turn it around… 

…just ask Marcus Smith
In many games this year, the scoreboards reflected just how close the results were – 6 of the match scores were within 5 points of each other. In every game, there was still something to play for up until the final moments. The same can be said for career change. 
Perhaps the most poignant example we can use to demonstrate this lies in the infamous final moments of the England v Ireland game. Harlequins’ star, Marcus Smith, secured the English win with an audacious last-minute drop-kick right between the posts, making the final score 23-22 and setting Twickenham alight with cheers. Beating Ireland by a single point, the English substitution that brought Smith into the game proved to us that it is never too late to turn it around – and that trying something different often pays off.

5.    Lean into your support network and believe in yourself  

In a golden display of resilience, bravery and belief, Italy brought the game back from 10 points down against Scotland to score their first home win in 11 years. The team filled the Stadio Olympico with spectators and, alongside their new coach, Gonzalo Quesada, delighted fans in unexpected and exhilarating ways in their 31-29 win over the Scots. The screams of support, joy, sweat and (a few) tears of Italian fans led the team to a wonderful and well-deserved win. Don’t be afraid to lean into the people around you who support you and, most importantly, don’t forget to believe in yourself.
As the whistle blew, the Italian team burst into emotional tears and cries of joy. The Italian captain later commented, “we show the people that we have the passion,” and have the passion they most certainly do. Similarly, we need to believe in our skills and potential when navigating the uncertainties and challenges associated with a new career path. Have confidence in the value you bring and your past experiences. 

6.    You never know what you’re capable of until you put yourself out there 

Only a few weeks ago, Italian number 8, Ross Vincent, was delivering pizzas in Exeter. Now he’s scoring tries against Ireland in the 6 Nations!
It may feel nerve-wracking to make a career change, especially if you’re moving into an entirely different sector. Granted, there are not many parallels between delivering pizza and playing rugby, and it can feel intimidating putting yourself out of your comfort zone. Certainly for Vincent, however, the risk paid off. 
It’s easy to think, ‘but what if it goes wrong?’ when considering a career change. However, next time you catch yourself thinking that, channel Ross Vincent, pizza-boy-turned-professional-athlete, and think, ‘But what if it goes right?’ 

These overarching themes can be boiled down to two things: resilience and belief. Career changes, like most sports, require dedication, motivation and commitment. There will be struggles and victories; good days and bad ones. Believing in yourself and taking a leap is something that both athletic and career professionals must do to excel – whether that’s from the office or from the pitch at Twickenham.