Watching, playing, and talking sport got me thinking about identity, culture, and the popular imagination, and how these intersect with politics.
I was lucky enough to travel the world playing rugby, and this allowed me to meet people from all sorts of backgrounds and belief systems who had a love of the game. I went onto study International Relations, and this sporting life was the impetus for my honours thesis, which explored the sports/war intertext in representations of international conflict. This was a new beginning for me as I moved away from a career in rugby towards one in academia, though I went on to explore how everyday experiences, like the ones we have of sport, shape who we are and how we understand the world.
You can read what I have written about sports and world politics on my publications page.
Sport and politics?
Sport is about contest, conflict, mediation, identity, place, cultural narratives and so much more. It can reproduce the shortcomings of society and it can also be a vehicle for change. Importantly, sports spectatorship is amongst the most pervasive social practices the world over. Yet the intersection of sport and world politics remains an under-examined subject in the International Relations research on popular culture.
My Rugby Journey
Rugby has been a huge part of my life since I laced up my boots as an eight year old many winters ago. I played right through school and then on into the Canberra club rugby competition, where I was lucky enough to join the Gungahlin Eagles and get my first taste of grade rugby. One of my fondest rugby experiences remains my debut year with the mighty 2nd XV, which included some of the greats of the club and a number of lifelong friends. Alongside club fixtures, I also represented the ACT in age group rugby, culminating in my selection for the Australian under 21s team to compete in the SANZAR/UAR Championship of 2001.
This led onto professional contracts with the ACT Brumbies between 2001-2004, which meant training full time alongside some of the most celebrated players of the day. It was an incredible experience that taught me about high performance and cultures of excellence, as well as core values around teamwork and personal development. Through this period I also represented Australia in Rugby Sevens and played for the Canberra Vikings, contributing to three consecutive premierships in the Brisbane club competition.
A serious injury sent me back to university for a year and set me on the path to academia. While I continued my studies, I ran out for two fantastic university clubs, Sydney University and the University of Queensland, playing my part in first grade premierships at both. More than the games we won, the culture and community around these places - full of role models and leaders who supported others and helped out selflessly - has had a big impact on my outlook and approach. In this environment, I was encouraged to develop my own leadership skills through captaining teams and mentoring younger players. In 2011, my final playing year, I was proud to captain the Australian Universities XV in a test match against New Zealand Universities.
I went on to referee the game for a number of years, mainly in Brisbane, and this gave me the opportunity to experience rugby from a very different perspective. I refereed games from juniors all the way to first grade. I learned about decision making under pressure, managing conflict, and communicating effectively in emotionally charged environments. It is fair to say that I became a more comfortable public speaker as a direct consequence of enduring through controversy and surviving to tell the tale!
I reflect back on my rugby days with a great deal of gratitude. The game took me all over Australia, and abroad to Cape Town, Bordeaux, Auckland, Canterbury, and many places besides. More importantly, I shared the journey with great people, many of who remain friends to this day.