Leaving the Badge in a Better Place

A Conversation with Ryan Julius

After a decade representing South Africa on the international stage, Ryan Julius has hung up his outdoor boots. In conversation with Mike Wright, he reflects on his journey from the international stage to Technical Director of Hockey at Bishops.

(An edited version of this interview appears in Issue 12 of The Old Diocesan.)

Mike: Where are you right now in your life, and how are you feeling?

Ryan: I retired in March last year after playing for my country for about ten years. A lot of life factors influenced that decision. I got married, my wife was pregnant, and I entered a phase of life that required more attention. Playing for South Africa is demanding; tours aren’t always feasible when you have a family, and I was also working full-time, so taking leave for weeks wasn’t possible. There were also changes in the team, so stepping away was the right decision for me and the team to come.

Was it hard ending your outdoor chapter?

Deciding to retire from outdoor international hockey was tough, but I always envisioned it being tougher than it actually was. Earlier in my career, hockey felt like my identity. Everyone knew Ryan as the hockey player. At the time, that bugged me. I remember thinking, “There’s actually more to Ryan.”

So when I thought about retiring, I worried: is that all people will remember me for? But when I finished my studies and started working, I gravitated toward people who understood that hockey was the vessel that got me through life, but it wasn’t my entire identity. That shift made a big difference. By the time I retired, my identity had grown beyond just the field, so it wasn’t as hard as I thought it would be.

I was also content with what I had achieved as a hockey player. When a group of us made our debut, we sat in a hotel room and asked each other what we wanted to achieve in the next six years. We all agreed we wanted to leave the badge in a better position than we found it. That was the agreement — and we did it.

We won the Nations Cup. We beat Germany for the first time. We beat France in Paris. We achieved our highest Olympic stats. When you hold yourself accountable to something like that, it carries weight every time you sing the national anthem. So yes, it was sad to close that chapter, but there was satisfaction in knowing we had achieved what we set out to do.

What were some of your favourite moments?

If I have to pick my favourite moment? It would have to be the Olympics — beating teams we technically shouldn’t have, while having my whole family there.

Tokyo was unique because of the masks, sanitising, and testing every day. Beating Germany at the Olympics was probably the most special moment of my career. It was the first time South Africa had ever beaten Germany at the Olympics. We were outside the top twelve, and they were ranked second in the world. It ended 4–3.

Beating France in Paris was also incredibly special. Before lining up, we said, “hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie.” The French knew exactly what that was connected to, and it started some drama before we stepped onto the field.

But honestly, my favourite part of any tour was always before the game, in the locker room. The locker room was probably even better than the game itself. That was the peak. Every time I put on the jersey, I felt like a kid at Christmas. Goosebumps. That never changed.

You’ve remained involved in the indoor scene. What has that chapter looked like?

I still play for the BlitzStokke. It is always nice to be back in the international fold. We recently won our third Nkosi Cup, and the indoor team just finished third at the World Cup. I had to pull out of that tournament because I got married during that time, but it was a decision I do not regret. Walking back into that mix was difficult because the team had gained so much confidence and respect, and I felt like I was playing catch-up for the first time and that I had something to prove. It spurred a new passion to add value and get better 1% every day.

How did being a national sportsman change you as a person?

Being a national sportsman changed me more than I realised. In South Africa, hockey is not well-funded, so everyone in the national team is very relatable. Because you don’t get paid, it’s just pure passion, and that makes the South African hockey player different.

It also taught me grit. Twelve hours before our Nations Cup game against Pakistan in 2022, our bags were packed outside the hotel because we were being thrown out. We still had to park that concern, perform in the game and qualify for Pro League. We had to learn to roll with the punches and thrive even when things were uncertain. South African hockey is on the cusp of doing something great. We’ve produced world-class players, and the youth looks positive. We just need to be patient. It will come.

Playing professionally in Holland for Almere in the Hoofdklasse was eye-opening and humbling. You realise you are very small in this sport when you play against truly world-

class players. It’s a constant reminder that you’re forever a student of the game. Nothing you’ve achieved should ever get to your head because there are people on a different level in every craft.

What role will hockey play in your life now?

I’ve shifted from playing to coaching and mentoring younger players, having recently resigned from my job in import and export logistics to take up the technical director of hockey role at Bishops across pre-prep, prep, and college. That’s my passion: hockey and growing and mentoring the younger generation.

I am also the head coach of the Bishops first team, but I’ve decided to do it alone this year. The passing of my assistant coach, Cassa Cassiem, was a very tough pill to swallow. His footprint in the Bishops community and in my life is massive. When I think of everyone I have spent time with in the South African hockey community, he’s probably the person I've spent the most time with. Losing him reminds me how fragile everything is.

So yes, my life is still in hockey, but just taking a different approach. I’m also really excited about being involved in the scholarship programme. Before Bishops, I was at a school (CBC St John’s) where we didn’t have an astro, so I had to learn and develop accordingly, and I think I have a good eye for identifying similar talent and the hard work that comes with it, linking those boys up with an opportunity at Bishops.

What does the full scope of your technical director role involve?

The role allows me to manage and organise the Bishops hockey curriculum from pre-prep to prep to high school to ensure a smooth transition from grade to grade. We are trying to follow the same blueprint in terms of values so that all teams are speaking the same language, helping players transition through the different phases more easily so that they are well-equipped by the time they reach high school, all while trying to spur on the love of the game.

I also upskill the coaches by delivering high-performance sessions with different teams each week while conducting video analysis for the A teams.

Who were some of the mentors who shaped your journey?

Warren Wallace was a massive influence in getting me into Bishops. Coming from a co-ed school where sport is not the main thing is probably the hardest, but he really helped in that transition, keeping me focused and hardworking in the classroom and on the field.

Bruce Jacobs and Kurt Cerfontyne were also influential. They helped me remain grounded while I was playing for the national team and Central. They pushed the “humility & gratitude” card, teaching me not to squander the opportunity of being at Bishops while encouraging me to be a blessing to others.

My parents have been my constant support. They are the real MVPs. From early morning check-ins to coming to watch almost every international tour I played, their love and support has always been felt.

What advice would you give young hockey players?

Ryan: Regardless of the environment you come from, passion gets you far, but hard work gets you what you want. Always try be a good person.

I have a saying: “Good people make good Bishops First Team players.” People want to be associated with winners, but they also want to relate to someone who is a good human being. If you can tie hard work and a good attitude with being a good human being, you can get very far in life.

How are you feeling about the next chapter?

I’m extremely excited about this next chapter. I say that not in arrogance, but because it’s a passion of mine and something that brings me a huge amount of joy. I wake up every day knowing it makes me happy.

It’s very rewarding because I have the ability to impact and influence kids’ lives daily. If you can achieve that — impacting those around you — it’s one of the biggest achievements in life. I’m excited to continue adding value to Bishops and give back to the school what the school has given me, leaving the place in a better position than when I found it!

When you depart this world, what you leave behind is the impact you had on others. That’s the most tangible thing you can leave. That gives me a huge amount of passion and drive for what’s ahead.

In closing, is there anything else to add?

Just to the people who have followed my journey and are still following it, thank you for all the support you show me. And to the OD Union for creating this platform for us as ODs to have our voices heard, thank you.

To the broader hockey community: South Africa is on the cusp of doing something great. We have produced world-class players, and the youth is looking extremely positive. All we need to do is be patient. It will come. We're earning loads of respect, and people are doing

homework on us now because we deserve it. And it isn’t just because of the national team, it’s because of the foundations and layers being laid in South African hockey across the board, so keep it up.