Colin Slade
Colin Slade’s journey is one of the great comeback stories in Rugby. A Professional Rugby player since the age of 20, Slade’s Rugby career has come with some massive highs and some really tough lows. Pushing through adversity and not giving up on his dream has shaped who the man Colin is today.
Every team that Colin was a part of in his early career won championships. Unbeaten at Christchurch Boys High School, two-time club champion, five-time NPC champion with Canterbury and winning the 2011 World Cup with the All Blacks all by the age of 24. The two years that followed though proved to be the greatest test of Colin’s Rugby career. In the space of 18 months, Slade had a number of major injuries, which included two broken jaws, torn abductors, an infection and a broken leg. Playing only a handful of matches and off the radar when it came to All Black selection. It was at this point where Colin had a choice to either give up on his Rugby career or get through this adversity and fight to get back into the All Black mix.
He was determined to prove people wrong and change the narrative that he was this ‘injury prone’ player. After a disappointing few years with the Highlanders, Slade returned to the Crusaders and began to find his form, managing to put together two of his best years in the Super Rugby competition. The comeback was complete when he returned for the All Blacks in 2014 and was ice cool kicking the winning conversion to win a Bledisloe Cup match against the Wallabies. He managed to continue this good form to gain selection for the successful All Black 2015 Rugby World Cup squad.
At 28, Colin made the tough decision to leave New Zealand Rugby and take up an opportunity to play club Rugby in France. This decision left All Black fans upset but Slade was in search of a new challenge and a change of lifestyle for his young family. Coming into 2020, Colin completed five enjoyable seasons with the Rugby club Pau, playing some of best Rugby. At 32, Colin believes he still has a number of good years left in his career and has taken up a new challenge to play for club side the Dynaboars in Japan.
In this episode, Colin with host van Beek, discuss in detail the intriguing journey of Slade’s career. From the point when Colin thought he could be a Professional Rugby Player; The feeling of making his All Black Debut; The reason for making the move to the Highlanders in 2011; The toughest period of Colin's career – dealing with setbacks and building a mental resilience; 'Zero to Hero' - The winning kick in the 2014 Bledisloe Cup match vs Australia; Working with a Sports Psychologist – ‘rediscovering good feelings’; Deciding to go to play in France at 28 and finishing with the All Blacks; Colin's career highlight - his proudest moments.
Chapters
Being back in New Zealand (2:03)
Childhood/Key Lessons. What if? When it came to Cricket. (4:37)
Run in with Tim Southee at Schoolboys Cricket tournament (9:17)
Great era of Rugby Talent at CBHS (10:54)
The point when Colin thought he could be a Professional Rugby Player (12:59)
How important is it to be in the Rugby academy out of school? (15:04)
Building self-belief winning championships everywhere Colin played (16:54)
What it was like to become a full-time professional Rugby player - being a part of the Crusaders? (18:52)
The feeling of making his All Black Debut (22:44)
The reason for making the move to the Highlanders in 2011 (26:13)
The 2011 World Cup experience - the fight to stay fit (30:42)
The toughest period of Colin's career – dealing with setbacks and building a mental resilience (39:06)
Advice you would give to a young athlete going through a tough period (46:33)
Working with a Sports Psychologist – ‘rediscovering good feelings’ (51:04)
Fond memories to look back on to create a positive mindset for a match (54:43)
'Zero to Hero' - The winning kick in the 2014 Bledisloe Cup match vs Australia (57:06)
How the Crusaders and the All Blacks create that winning culture? (1:03:18)
Best Leaders he has been around - what Colin craves from a leader? (1:06:46)
2015 World Cup experience - Two-time World Cup winner (1:11:43)
What made Richie McCaw and Dan Carter so special? (1:14:22)
Deciding to go to play in France at 28 and finishing with the All Blacks (1:15:52)
Playing in France for Pau - How was the Rugby & the Lifestyle? (1:19:34)
New adventure - Joining the Dynaboars in Japan (1:25:54)
Career Transitioning after Colin decides to hang up the boots (1:27:49)
Colin's career highlight - his proudest moments (1:31:44)