Book Review – From Locker Room to Boardroom

by Ross van Reenan (Zebra Press)  ISBN: 978-1-77022-331-8

Do you know that Kobus Wiese, Springbok lock and 1995 World Cup winner, started a successful coffee-shop franchise? I am a coffee lover and can testify to the quality of Wiese’s coffee. Bob Skinstad, eighth man and once Springbok captain is a familiar face on television as a Supersport commentator. Skinstad has taken his experience as rugby captain into the business world. He is MD of Itec Connect Western.

Players like Skinstad, Wiese and other rugby greats like Francois Pienaar, Naas Botha and Joel Stransky have used their time on the rugby field as the foundation for building successful businesses. They are proof that there is life after rugby and that rugby can provide essential business skills.

Success comes from teamwork. Individuals make up business and sports teams. Diversity joining forces to achieve a common purpose: winning. Strategic discussion in the locker room is not that different to the planning done in the boardroom. Van Reenan translates these business lessons effectively into From Locker Room to Boardroom.

As a management consultant and MBA graduate, van Reenan provides business advice and practical business models. Van Reenan has rugby experience by playing 62 Currie Cup matches for Free State. The anecdotes and examples used in the book, the reader will see that rugby players’ challenges are no different to the challenges faced in business.

Ulrike Hill

4/5