Coffee and cookies with Rene Straeuli

2019-08-18

As a celebration of Women’s Month we sat down with Rene Straeuli, wife of Lions Rugby Company CEO Rudolf and mother to Rieze and Ruhan, over coffee and cookies at Waterkloof Hoerskool where she is an Afrikaans teacher and netball coach.
Rene has been a rugby wife for most of her adult life as her husband Rudolf moved from being a player, to a coach to a rugby administrator.
While a host of very young coaches have started coming through the ranks at the Lions, Rene gives valuable advice to these young families as she talks about her life in rugby while putting her own career as a teacher on the back burner to bring up kids and support her husband.
“The reality of a coaches’ wife is that you will raise your kids on your own. It’s something that you cannot deny. So you have to become independent very quickly. Often you will not be able to contact him in a crisis situation. You will have to deal with drama, illness, birthdays and special days on your own. Be happy when he is there for you wedding,” she says candidly with a wry smile.
It might be an over-exaggeration on her part but the message is clear – if you marry into sport, chances are you will be on your own for long periods of time. He needs to know that ‘she has got this’.
“You have to set up your life so that it suits you. Your husband will have to fall in with that. Also, you will most probably relocate often. You might think you don’t even want to unpack and settle because the next move can be just around the corner. But I’ve learnt that it is best to unpack as if you will be staying forever. Make a home for the family,” she says while reminiscing about her own family’s moves between Pretoria, Italy, England and Durban.
“I absolutely loved Durban. The sea is food for my soul. We lived there for 14 years and we made some lifelong friends there. One must always remember that where ever you find yourself, that’s where you are meant to be at that specific moment in time.”
Rene and Rudolf met while at university in Pretoria. He was playing for Blue Bulls at the time. She did not know who he was, although her brother Johan Roux was also a rugby player. They later both became part of the 1995 Springboks and shared many rugby fields.
Their oldest, Rieze (23) is a student in Bsc Behavioural Genetics at the University of the Free State and Ruhan (20) is at Stellenbosch University (BCom). He is also an avid rugby player who is bound to follow in his fathers’ footsteps.
Rieze was three when the family moved to England and when it was Ruhans’ turn to make his appearance, Rene returned to South Africa for the birth.
“I dedicated all my time to our children during their school going years. I was there for all the extramural activities, all the sport, all the birthday parties etc. If I have one tip for the rugby widows it would be to try and have a part-time job of some sort. Try and keep busy and stay involved in your particular field of expertise. Because one day when your children are grown, you can carry on with your career without much hassle.
“I was lucky that I managed to get into teaching when Ruhan was in high school. I am a true teacher with lots of coloured pens, highlighters and files. I love working with the school kids and coaching the netball team and I feel really blessed for the opportunities that came way to make it all possible,” she says with eyes twinkling with excitement.
But empty nest is a real thing she realized quite recently and still struggles with the new dynamics of only herself and Rudolf being at home most of the time.
“It’s bad. It really is. I can’t say I’ve gotten used to the kids being away. I had to redefine who I am and what I want. Still working on that,” she murmurs.
A common trait shared by many strong women is the determination to overcome the challenges of making every opportunity count and quietly but confidently achieve their goals.
Rene Straeuli is one of those women. She stood in the shadows for a long time while she let others shine. Now it is her time. Next to her man.

*Join us for a family day full of rugby at Emirates Airline Park today. The Under 8's kick off at 10:00. Xerox Golden Lions vs Cell C Sharks at 14:00.

Annemie Bester