Astrid, a Year 13 Dover Court International School (DCIS) student, recently qualified for the Singapore Rugby Union’s U18 Sevens Team. Astrid has been a Doverian since 2014 and is currently doing the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme (IBDP). We had the chance to speak with Astrid, and she shared her inspiring journey with us, showcasing the perfect balance between pursuing the rigorous IBDP and playing competitive rugby. She also offered valuable advice to aspiring student-athletes. Astrid’s story is an inspiration to student-athletes everywhere, proving that with the right balance, one can achieve excellence on the field and in the classroom.
Q. Congratulations, how does it feel to qualify for a national team?
This has been a fantastic experience. I have the privilege to train with some amazing players and coached by two professional coaches. It is full-on, but I’m really enjoying it.
Q. It’s clear that you enjoy being active. Can you share what your journey has been like?
I have always loved being active, and I can't remember a time when I wasn't involved in sports. My first passion was swimming. I joined the DCIS swim squad in Year 3, known as the Dover Fins, and we were coached by Ms Good, who really encouraged and supported us. I was selected for the first-ever DCIS FOBISIA squad in 2018, which sparked my interest in running. Shortly after, I signed up for my first triathlon and have been participating in the MetaSprint series since. Although I love triathlons, I'm also a team player. When my friend invited me to a rugby trial in Year 7, I was hooked. I now play for Tanglin Rugby Club with the TRC Medusas, and I've found the rugby community to be just so warm and welcoming.
Q. You are now in Year 13, doing the final year of IB. How do you manage to juggle training and studying?
To me, my mental wellbeing has always been a priority, and I function so much better when I’m active. Even during my GCSEs, I continued to attend morning swim training and played rugby, netball, and touch rugby for the DCIS Wolves. Engaging in sports really helped me manage the stress of exams. The IBDP is full on, but I’ve found that if you don’t procrastinate and get onto all assignments straight away, it’s much more manageable. I make good use of my free periods and prefer to study efficiently so that I can then head off to training, rather than sitting and flipping through my books or getting distracted by social media or TV. I try to make sure that I have a good balance between schoolwork, training and sleep. I’m also very interested in nutrition and try to make sure I eat everything I need to stay active.
Q. Do you feel that rugby is beneficial for your studies?
Yes! In addition to the physical and mental benefits of training, it's also really useful in Sports, Health, and Exercise Science, which I am studying as a Higher Level subject. I can link my learning to a practical element, both the physiological and psychological aspects. This makes the subject much more relatable.
Q. How does it feel to play a sport traditionally dominated by men?
During the few years I’ve been playing, it’s been great to see how women’s rugby has grown in Singapore and around the world. When I started playing, there was only one girls’ team in Singapore, with girls mixed from all rugby clubs. We were Under 13 and were allowed to play against the Under 12 boys. Now, most clubs here have girls’ teams, and my club even hosts an all-girls tournament. It was so inspiring to watch the women play at the Singapore Sevens last spring and to be able to meet with the Black Ferns. I was also lucky to be able to participate in a Sevens clinic held at Dover Court, where we were coached by Australian Olympic medallist Alicia Lucas and South African World Cup winner Bryan Habana.
Q. What would your top tip be to anyone considering doing the IBDP whilst also doing a lot of sport?
Just do it! It’s very much doable; you just need to be well-organised with your time management. If you’re anything like me, staying active will actually be a very important part of managing the IB.
