SEA Games 2015 Blog

Josephine’s Story
Josephine Yeo
Administrative Assistant, Clients & Markets and Team Singapore rugby player

I was introduced to the world of rugby just last year and was instantaneously hooked and have since become a national player. But it came as somewhat of a surprise as I have been a netball player most of my life.

My love for netball started when I was 13 years old, and I was privileged to represent Singapore in the Under 19 and Under 21 squads. I also play competitively in the yearly elite level tournaments such as the Netball Super League.

For a long time, while I occasionally dabbled in other sports, netball was the heart of my sporting interests.

It was only recently, as I started to think I was reaching the end of my time in elite netball, that I had a casual conversation with a friend about trying out a new sport for fun - rugby. After a few sessions I realised that I was a good fit for the sport and before I knew what was happening, I had begun playing rugby regularly.

Being an employee with Deloitte first introduced me to rugby and provided me the opportunity to pursue my new interest, and I am really lucky to be in an organisation that promotes local sports and creates opportunities for employees to lead an active lifestyle and to pursue their dreams.

Rugby is a physically demanding and mentally challenging sport. It requires a different level of intensity from what I had been used to in netball. However, the values and lessons of rugby and netball are the same. It is about teamwork, dedication, mental strength, knowing my weaknesses, learning from defeat, staying humble with victories and appreciating the people who play a part in grooming and coaching me.

I made my first appearance as a national player at the Asian Rugby Women’s 7s, held in Hong Kong in March this year. It was a surreal experience – competing at an international level in a new sport – and it spurred me to try out for a place in the Singapore women’s rugby team for this year’s SEA Games. With no expectations, as a newcomer to rugby, I gave it a shot. I was mentally prepared to be eliminated, so you can imagine my delight when I was named as one of the 24 privileged to be part of the SEA Games training squad!

I am now a reserve member of the squad preparing for the 28th SEA Games, so I help the team to prepare and I am on standby in case I am called up due to injuries. While I don’t know yet whether I will get the chance to play in the Games itself, being part of the squad is an incredible experience as I am still learning the ropes.

Playing on home ground in Singapore’s 50th year of independence carries with it pride and responsibility for all the athletes. There is undoubtedly pressure to clinch medals, but more importantly, this pressure is backed by the support of the home crowd. I think it will be what keeps all the athletes strong and confident, and I am grateful for the support of my family, friends, my colleagues and supervisors at Deloitte that are letting me be part of the SEA Games journey.

Allow me to end this entry by sharing a message, slightly adapted from Thomas Paine, that resonates with me; encouraging my fellow Deloitte athletes to never giving up on our dreams:

“I do not choose to be a common woman. I have the right to be uncommon. I see the opportunity not security, and I’ll take the calculated risk: to dream, to train, to build, to compete for the thrill of victory and the disappointment of defeat. No guts, no glory.”

In all aspects of my life, when the going gets tough, I ride out the storm holding on to this message and the lesson it shares.

Josephine