Dan Van Zyl: From Cricket to Springboks – Resilience, Mentorship & Building Rugby Pathways

From Loftus ball boy to Springbok, Dan Van Zyl’s story is about resilience, transition, and mentorship. He opens up about juggling cricket and rugby, the shift to professionalism, and how he’s now shaping young players through Rugby Academy Ireland. A must-listen for players, coaches, and anyone chasing growth in rugby and life. 📩 Join Coach G’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/coach-g-1708/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec 📩 Join Coach Ben’s Free Community - https://www.skool.com/bens-group-3618/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec 📩 Join Lessons From The Game Community - https://www.skool.com/lessons-from-the-game-7496/about?ref=2aa34cec096e4503a6e179cc75caaaec Chapters 00:00 The Journey of a Multi-Sport Athlete 04:42 Lessons from the Game: Sharing Knowledge 06:51 Roots in Rugby and Cricket 12:30 Mindset and Individual Performance 16:31 Transitioning to Professional Rugby 24:26 The Shift to Professionalism in Rugby 28:37 Learning from Experience: The Springbok Journey 36:23 Building Resilience in Young Players 42:30 The Role of the Dirt Tracker 47:25 Attributes for Success in Rugby 52:22 Coaching and Mentorship in Ireland 01:05:31 Giving Back: The Mission of Rugby Academy Ireland Follow us on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/lessonsfromthegamepodcast Follow Coach G on⁠⁠ Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/ggsteenkamp Follow Ben on ⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠ - https://www.instagram.com/benpegna