Blitzbok Seabelo Senatla kicks off Senatla 7s youth tournament in Cape Town

Crowned World Rugby Men’s Sevens Player of the Year in 2016, Senatla is the all-time leading Blitzboks try scorer and 'hot stepper'. His career includes standout provincial, national and international performances as a wing.

After the accident left him with nerve damage, he made an extraordinary comeback thanks to intensive rehabilitation.

That recovery journey inspired Senatla to dedicate himself to mentoring the next generation of rugby players through the Connect Academy, where he serves as a board member, mentor, and role model.

Senatla launched his own tournament, the Senatla 7s youth tournament, aimed at developing young male and female rugby talent from less privileged backgrounds.

For Senatla, it’s a deeply personal project, giving youth a holistic approach to growth in rugby, while also focusing on mental and nutritional development.

"The reason I chose Sevens instead of 15s is because everybody still sees me as a Sevens player, so my brand has become one of Sevens, and people really correlate me with Sevens. It's about embracing this and growing the game in a format that I understand the most.

"We're trying to build entry points on all fronts from junior level up to adulthood. We're trying to find exit strategies for these guys in a way that will transcend their lives at every single point. It's become a sustainable system, and we try and focus on the whole spectrum."

Senatla says this phase is exciting because it comes after one of the lowest periods of his life after the accident, where he battled and overcame loneliness, depression and alcoholism.

"It was an extremely lonely time. It's a miracle! I can't answer how I got back here. It's only God.

"Sport is quite fickle in terms of the attention you get from people. It's more on a fan level, not a support level. I always distinguish between a fan and a supporter. A fan is there to cheer you on and rally behind you when things are going great, but when things are going bad, these are people who step away. A supporter is someone who walks that journey with you, whether things are going good or bad, they're always there, and I know exactly who those people are in my life."

To listen to Senatla in conversation with Lester Kiewit on CapeTalk's Breakfast Show, click below: