In this episode of Lessons From The Game, we sit down with JJ van der Mescht, the towering South African lock now making waves at Northampton Saints. From his days as a multi-sport schoolboy in Durban, to a headline move to France with Stade Français, JJ shares how he turned doubts about his size into fuel for success.

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We unpack his journey of resilience, mental strength, and belief, his transformation from being labelled “overweight” to becoming a dominant force in the scrum, and how he balances professional rugby with coaching and building his real estate business.

This is a powerful conversation for young props, locks, and coaches looking to learn what it takes to dominate on and off the field.

Chapters

00:00 The Journey of JJ van der Meest

05:05 Belief and Self-Confidence in Rugby

11:34 The Importance of Pre-Season Training

17:45 Multi-Sport Background and Its Impact

23:26 Navigating the Path to Professional Rugby

29:10 Experiences in South African Rugby

32:24 Transitioning to Stade Francais

36:31 The Move to Northampton Saints

41:51 Mental Health and Balancing Life

47:19 Setting Goals and Improving Skills

52:09 Future Aspirations Beyond Rugby

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