Former All Black Ben Atiga’s pastoral role with Scotland’s pro players is more vital than ever

Ex-Edinburgh centre offers comfort during lockdown

Ben Atiga is using his own experience as a former internationalist to help those players who may be having diffuculty in coping while in isolation. Picture: SNS/SRU

Ben Atiga is not one of the high-profile figures in the Scottish Rugby Union management structure and, quite frankly, that’s the way he prefers it.

In his role as player liaison officer he is happy to be in the background, providing a sounding board for the nation’s rugby players across the board, from academies to Sevens, the pro teams and the top international players.

The New Zealand-born former centre, who is a member of that elite club of one-cap Test wonders after a bench appearance for his beloved All Blacks against Tonga in Brisbane during the 2003 World Cup, played a couple of seasons with Edinburgh from 2012 before having to retire with an arthritis-related 
condition.

The Aucklander is now the man who plays a behind-the-scenes pastoral role in his adopted home and in this Mental Health Awareness Week was happy to speak to the media and offer words of encouragement to rugby players at all levels across the land at this difficult time of lockdown.

“The message we’ve been sending to our players is: look at the bright side of this, look at it as a unique opportunity rather than an interruption, a chance to dedicate more time towards other things,” said the former Auckland Blues skipper and Otago Highlanders midfielder.

“And look at some things you want to make more permanent when we come out of lockdown, what are those things? The whole world is paused right now and we can take advantage of this time before we go back to some sort of normality. “Hopefully we don’t see this again in our lifetimes, but let’s take advantage while we have some time.”

It is not a role he foresaw for himself back in his playing days but the 37-year-old is relishing the opportunity to help in any way he can what he considers to be rugby family.

He freely admits that he experienced moments of stress, anxiety and downright fear during his career and has been working in this mental health support role with the SRU for a couple of years now.

“My remit is in charge of our contracted players, just checking in, asking what they’ve been up to,” he explained.

“There have been video calls, I’ve been telling the guys I need to get my dose of socialising in just as much as them! Not everyone has responded, it’s not for everyone and that’s fine. But the guys need to know that we’re still here and there is an avenue for contact here if they need it.

“When you’re used to being in groups and being around people it can be tough. There are some players in hard places who are completely isolated, living on their own, so it’s about managing that, staying in touch and keeping track on people. We’re working closely with medical teams as well, just making sure that we’re picking up on the right guys and putting things in place so these guys can stay upbeat.”

Atiga is encouraged by the steps that have been taken during his time in the role of the importance placed on mental as well as physical wellbeing in what can be a highly demanding, competitive and stressful working environment at times.

“With my background, I guess I’ve been through the same triumphs and tribulations as they have so I have an understanding of what they’re going through,” he said. “What we are seeing now is guys start to open up, to try to normalise mental health as much as physical health.

“It’s great to see guys come out of their shells and for others to support them. Players aren’t distancing themselves and being afraid of it, they’re supportive and reaching out to each other. We’re seeing that at the moment with small groups on WhatsApp regularly in touch and obviously myself touching base with as many as possible. Sometimes they want to talk to people outside their friend group, and I’m an impartial person to be a springboard for these guys.”

While glimmers of light are being offered, it remains a precarious time, with economic factors looming before the pressing priority of safeguarding public health is fully addressed. No part of society is immune to the 
current perils.

“You’d have to be a sociopath if you weren’t anxious at all about this period, we’re all going to go through this,” said Atiga. “We’re in uncharted waters right now so a key message for us to to tell guys is to stay in the present, try not to look too far forward.

“We see things happening in other countries right now. It looks like they’re starting up again in New Zealand and that can get under a players’ skin back here. But they understand the situation here.”

Atiga stresses that he is not a professional in this sphere, merely a friendly ear who can help out and direct players to more qualified assistance if required.

“It was really my experiences as a player. The first thing I tell the guys is I’m not a psychologist,” he said. “What I do know is that I have that empathy to understand what you’re going through. Being a pro athlete is like a fraternity, you have to care about those guys and make sure they don’t make the same mistakes you did.

“What we have in place is we’ve aligned ourselves with our own mental health provider which allows us to signpost guys their way if they need that kind of support, confidentially, through me or our medical teams.

“This is my first proper role, managing the programme and the initiatives for the guys. I understand what they’re going through and share my own stories, because at some stage I’ve experienced this myself or been around guys who’ve been through these things.”

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