Taking a hard knock might make many rethink their decision, but not if you are Tracey Mthunzi, because she is no quitter.

Earlier this year, the UP-Tuks honours student made a life-changing decision as to her choice of sport. She put her netball tekkies away and donned a pair of rugby boots. Rugby sevens became her new sport. She was off with the Air France TuksWomensRugby Sevens team not long after to play rugby.

Mthunzi is the first to admit that she knew little about rugby then. It was sort of a case of "fools rushing in where angels fear to tread". The story did not have a happy ending. Playing against a team from England in May, she got so severely concussed in a tackle that she only woke up in the hospital.

Her first words on regaining her conscience were, "Why am I not playing?" According to Mthunzi, it took some convincing from the Tuks team's manager to realise it was game over for her.

The Tuks student-athlete would have been forgiven if she decided it might be a good time to quit playing rugby. She did not. She does not regret her decision. The past weekend, she starred for the Air France TuksWomensRugby 7s team that won bronze at the 2023 World University Invitational Tournament in Bordeaux, France.

A definite highlight was scoring her first try in international rugby. It was in the game against Mauritius.

When asked why she decided to continue playing rugby, Mthunzi said, "I have failed one of the modules for honours. When I decided to redo it, the lecturer wanted to know why I decided to do so.

"To me, it is simple. I always make sure I do something to its fullest. If I fail the first time, it will never prevent me from doing it again. If there is an opportunity to do something again, I will make myself proud and excel at it."

As to what she remembers from that near-career-ending tackle, she answered, "I broke through the defence line. I remember thinking that I was going to score on my first try. Then, from nowhere, a player popped up and tackled me.

"I watched a video of the game. While I was down, you could see that I was trying to get back up. But then I went limp. It was lights out for me. The British girls felt so bad that they gave me a signed jersey, wishing me a speedy recovery."

When Mthunzi starts talking about rugby, it is clear that she is passionate about the game.

"I hope to continue playing as long as my body allows me. Rugby has so many opportunities. If you are willing and prepared to work hard, you will make it."

Part of Mthunzi's motivation comes from the fact that Sne' Mdletshe, a former Kovsies netball player, was part of the Springbok Women's Sevens team that won the African Olympic Qualifying Tournament in Tunisia and secured their spot for the Paris 2024 Olympics in France. She also only started playing rugby this year.

Mthunzi is a former netball player, having represented TuksNetball and the Gauteng Jaguars.