In a tale that sounds like it's straight out of a rugged sports drama, Asenathi Ntlabakanye spills the beans on his transformative stint at Daan Human’s farm in Bloemfontein. The Lions powerhouse shed a whopping 15-18kg and made his Test debut, all thanks to a few weeks of unconventional training.
During his appearance on the Behind the Ruck podcast, Ntlabakanye, 26, shared how he landed at the farm. “Coach Daan, the first time I went to his camp – not his camp, his farm – I think it was somewhere in May because we got knocked out early out of the URC,” he recounted. The Lions had just missed the Vodacom URC playoffs, and rather than taking a break, Ntlabakanye opted for a more productive off-season under Human's guidance.
"I was kind of nervous going down there because I didn’t really know what to expect. Because the first time we got there, I was like, ‘OK, what time are we going to gym?’ and he was like, ‘Gym? Ons gaan plaas toe [we are going to the farm].'”
The directive to stay active came straight from the top. “It was like a message through Coach Ras [Rassie Erasmus] and Challa [team manager Charles Wessels], just to keep yourself active because the other guys were playing playoffs,” Ntlabakanye explained.
The farm itself turned into a bespoke gym without walls. “We created kind of our own space because we didn’t really want to be in public,” he said. His daily routine involved early drives to the farm, cycling to keep busy, ball work, core exercises, and grueling pull-ups. Human also crafted a unique hill-running exercise that Ntlabakanye described as tough but enjoyable.
"He’s not a big believer in talking stuff. It’s all about action. You say you want to get better – how do you get better? It’s by working,”
Human's hands-on approach and no-nonsense philosophy clearly left a mark on Ntlabakanye, who continues to draw inspiration from his coach. “He was very special for me and he still is. I’m still learning to this day. Let’s get the work done, then you reap the rewards,” he added, reflecting on the experience that not only changed his physique but also his professional rugby career trajectory.
Beyond the sweat and soil, this venture into farm life has proven that sometimes, the best training ground is where you least expect it—no fancy equipment needed, just the great outdoors and a relentless push towards excellence.
2,193 posts
In a tale that sounds like it's straight out of a rugged sports drama, Asenathi Ntlabakanye spills the beans on his transformative stint at Daan Human’s farm in Bloemfontein. The Lions powerhouse shed a whopping 15-18kg and made his Test debut, all thanks to a few weeks of unconventional training.
During his appearance on the Behind the Ruck podcast, Ntlabakanye, 26, shared how he landed at the farm. “Coach Daan, the first time I went to his camp – not his camp, his farm – I think it was somewhere in May because we got knocked out early out of the URC,” he recounted. The Lions had just missed the Vodacom URC playoffs, and rather than taking a break, Ntlabakanye opted for a more productive off-season under Human's guidance.
"I was kind of nervous going down there because I didn’t really know what to expect. Because the first time we got there, I was like, ‘OK, what time are we going to gym?’ and he was like, ‘Gym? Ons gaan plaas toe [we are going to the farm].'”
The directive to stay active came straight from the top. “It was like a message through Coach Ras [Rassie Erasmus] and Challa [team manager Charles Wessels], just to keep yourself active because the other guys were playing playoffs,” Ntlabakanye explained.
The farm itself turned into a bespoke gym without walls. “We created kind of our own space because we didn’t really want to be in public,” he said. His daily routine involved early drives to the farm, cycling to keep busy, ball work, core exercises, and grueling pull-ups. Human also crafted a unique hill-running exercise that Ntlabakanye described as tough but enjoyable.
"He’s not a big believer in talking stuff. It’s all about action. You say you want to get better – how do you get better? It’s by working,”
Human's hands-on approach and no-nonsense philosophy clearly left a mark on Ntlabakanye, who continues to draw inspiration from his coach. “He was very special for me and he still is. I’m still learning to this day. Let’s get the work done, then you reap the rewards,” he added, reflecting on the experience that not only changed his physique but also his professional rugby career trajectory.
Beyond the sweat and soil, this venture into farm life has proven that sometimes, the best training ground is where you least expect it—no fancy equipment needed, just the great outdoors and a relentless push towards excellence.