SPRINGBOK star Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu has revealed his off-field habits and routines that keep him in top shape.
Image: Rodger Bosch/AFP
When we see Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu destroying the opposition in the green and gold of the Springboks, it seems the world is at his feet.
Usually, it is for the 80 minutes of the rugby games, but he explains that it is what he does outside of game time that equips him to be at his best come kick-off.
Medical aid and banking giants Discovery have recognised that the 24-year-old is not only a brilliant sportsman but also a healthy young man, and on Thursday announced that Feinberg-Mngomezulu is their new brand ambassador, along with Jesse Kriel, the Springboks centre who has graced the cover of Men’s Health, eight-pack and all.
“We put in a lot of hours that the public obviously doesn’t see,” Feinberg-Mngomezulu explained. “It is the unseen work. Then on a Saturday, you have to go out in the world and demonstrate the product of the hard work.
“You have to stay in peak shape to consistently deliver,” he continues. “It is about (healthy) eating, staying hydrated and taking in electrolytes, and probably the most important is sleep, because that is when you do most of your recovery, and if you are short, you end up needing to sleep more!
“Rugby is about emotional highs and lows, and being able to rebound and do it again ties into health,” Feinberg-Mngomezulu added. “Everyone has their way of doing it. I like getting in the cold water of the sea (in Cape Town) and spiking everything.
“If you have a mindset to be healthy, I think everything kind of falls into place quite easily.”
It is not all hard work and no fun for the 2025 United Rugby Championship Player of the Year. What does he do to chill out?
“I’m very good at braaing,” he smiles before adding a caveat. “When I am braaing — because I have to watch my (calorie) intake — where others add tons of sauce and stuff, I keep it spicy, juicy and fresh.”
“Away from rugby, I mostly spend time with my mates, but I am also a dog person. I recently bought a house, and my puppy has a nicer place to stay. He keeps me good company.”
Underpinning Feinberg-Mngomezulu’s rugby performances is a sound support structure.
“What motivates me to perform is the support base I have — the kids that support me, and the way they look up to me is important because I once was them,” he explained. “And doing it for myself and my family is important.”
Feinberg-Mngomezulu is a confident, self-assured young man. It is no coincidence that he plays in the most responsible position in the team.
“To be the flyhalf you have to be the academic of the game plan,” he says. “I love the extra responsibility to try and help my team win.”
When asked what his future might look like, he replied, “I want to be someone who has left a legacy behind him in the sporting world, done amazing things with the Springboks and my club (the Stormers), but also had some cool individual achievements.
“I’d like to leave my stamp on the game, reshaping the narrative of how rugby is supposed to be played, and what’s crazy on the field.”