Richard Kahui- From suffering 5 Full shoulder reconstructions to becoming a RWC winner!

Richard Kahui is one of those player that when fit was one of the best in the world and the unfortunate thing for him and all of NZ rugby fans was the fact that the "when fit" part was all to few and far between. The man known as Kaks had to go through 5 Full shoulder reconstructions plus another shoulder surgery in the space of 6 years which made fighting for the dream All Black 13 jersey a tough gig. It was also a real challenge mentally to continue to do everything possible to get back from these injuries only to have to go through it all again.

Some key topics that stood out for me were...
How working hard on a building apprenticeship helped with the life after rugby transition
The power that the Steve Renolf headgear had on his tackling
The role of self-confidence in achieving success
The dedication and sacrifice are necessary to pursue a dream in rugby
Obviously the challenges of injuries and the impact on performance
The emotions with winning the 2011 RWC
Why he decided to leave NZ rugby
How he found playing in Japan for 7 years
And all your questions and heaps more!

Heading into this episode I had only ever heard great things about this great man and after the episode it is clear to see why. A genuine champion man who was the ultimate team mate. His love for the game was clear and although he had some tough times throughout his career, to play for 18 years at the level he did is incredible. If you enjoy this episode please give it a share and let me know what you thought of it in the comments so I can continue to bring more great guests like this!

00:00- Introduction and Life after rugby transition
03:04- Challenges with Tackling and Injuries
07:21- The Importance of Camaraderie in Rugby
14:20- His Passion and Love for the Game
19:28- Confidence and Self-Belief struggles
23:24- Winning the 2006 Season NPC Player of the year
29:53- Choosing to Stay with the Mooloos
33:31- The Sacrifices and Challenges of Pursuing a Rugby Dream
35:20- The Journey to Professional Rugby
37:10- The Mental Resilience to Overcome Setbacks
49:48- The Special Bond of the 2011 World Cup
55:31- The Importance of Mental Skills Training
59:50- Fulfilling a Lifelong Dream: Winning a Title for the Home Region
01:23:02- Returning to Super Rugby with the Force
01:31:23- Questions about big hits, cooking with Kaks and Stephen Donald
01:35:21- Back Yourself: Advice from Kaks