Nomsa Mokwai: Balancing life as a Springbok rugby player and trauma nurse

When patients arrive at Netcare Christiaan Barnard Memorial Hospital’s Level 1 trauma centre in Cape Town, they rarely realise that the caring nurse helping to treat them is also a Springbok rugby player.

Professional nurse Nomsa Mokwai prides herself on being particular about nursing practices, but, when she’s not working with the trauma team, she proudly puts on another uniform - that of the green and gold of the Springbok women's rugby team.

It’s a role she also takes very seriously, devoting much of her off-duty time to working out in the gym and squad training. The team she’s a part of recently represented South Africa in the Women’s Rugby World Cup in the United Kingdom, where they reached the quarter-finals.

Mokwai said she loves the variety her job offers. At times, she has to channel her inner strength and show courage when coping with immense pressure. But this is a skill she relishes practising because, as a Springbok forward, she must use her physical strength against their opponents.

“I have the kind of personality that wants to help, that wants to nurture and see people getting better".

Mokwai added that, on the other hand, she wanted to play rugby because there’s a whole generation to inspire. “If they see me doing it, it could spark something inside them that says ‘I can too’".

She admitted it is not always easy to juggle her two very demanding roles. “I work night shifts, so immediately after work, I go to the gym or for training. Sometimes I swap work shifts with other nurses so that I can attend the Springboks training camps".

Mokwai said when she dresses in her rugby attire, it is not only to inspire younger generations. “I am also very aware that I’m playing for my family, my country and also for myself and my teammates. I often think that in a medical setting, you can be as brilliant as ever, whether you are a doctor or a nurse or whatever other role, but you still require the person who is working next to you to help you to be successful". 

Mokwai explained that likewise, rugby also teaches people to identify one another’s strengths. “It’s a team sport. As an individual, you can be very fit and super-fast, but you will never conquer your opposing team alone. For me, both these uniforms mean teamwork".

On why she chose rugby of all the sports available to women, Mokwai said it was because people think women cannot play rugby. “I never thought I would play rugby because I grew up thinking girls played netball and basketball, and the guys played rugby. I want to prove that we can do exactly the same as men do".

While she has played a lot of sports, she sees rugby as unique because it creates a bond that connects players with different characters and diverse cultures, in a way that encourages you to merge and become a family.

When she’s not in the trauma department or on the rugby field, Mokwai enjoys baking and cooking to help her relax. She also used to do modelling.

She wants to inspire young women to play rugby, and her message is that it is possible to juggle two things at the same time.