Confidence Rule #5: Every Day Is a New Chance to Be Better Than Yesterday.
By Millin Smith | Photo: Lizette Smit
Ethan Sias, born and raised in Darling, is the eldest of three children, Ethan’s early years were characterised by a deep-rooted passion for both cricket and rugby, sports that would ultimately shape his journey to success.
He received a scholarship from Hoërskool Garsfontein in Pretoria in 2011. It was at Garsfontein that Sias truly made his mark, demonstrating his exceptional talent and leadership skills on the schoolboy rugby stage. Two years later, he got selected for the Blue Bulls Craven Week side.
“It was a very exciting time for me and my career when I got selected for the Blue Bulls Craven Week team,” Sias said. “I was very nervous but at the time relishing the chance to showcase my confidence and talent on the field.”
This set the platform for his physical prowess and talent which caught the eye of Bloemfontein-based outfit, the Cheetahs. Injury forced him to the sidelines for an extended period, which meant his contract was not renewed with the Cheetahs meaning he had to return home in 2014. Despite the setback, Sias remained confident, positive, and upbeat and joined his hometown club, Darling, in 2015 and played for the Swartland Champions until 2018.
As fate would have it, another opportunity came knocking in 2019, this time to play and work for Impala in Rustenburg.
“I was very disappointed when my Cheetahs contract was not renewed, it really took a lot for me to get my confidence and self-belief back.”
As the year unfolded, Ethan’s dedication and talent shone through, and he experienced a triumphant moment when he and his Impala teammates won the Gold Cup.
Yet another setback hit, Impala was forced to let go of some of its staff members resulting in some of the rugby-playing staff members losing their jobs.
Undeterred by the unexpected turn of events, Ethan returned home, seeking a new opportunity to continue his rugby career. This time he joined WP Super League A side, Hamilton SP in Cape Town.
At the start of the 2023 season, Sias returned to Darling RC.
When asked what confidence means to him, he said, “Confidence is what makes a player. It impacts his or her performance on and off the field. In times where your confidence is low, just make sure you do the basics and stick to the process that brought you glory in the first place.”