Blitzboks captain Impi Visser will be the first to admit that leading South Africa’s Sevens team into battle comes far more naturally to him than navigating life with a newborn at home.
Hard tackles, defensive reads, and keeping calm in high-pressure moments — those are the things he’s built for. Nappy changes and late-night soothing, on the other hand, have introduced him to an entirely different kind of challenge.
Since stepping into the captaincy of the Springbok Sevens, Visser has carried the responsibility with the same calm, grounded presence that defines his no-nonsense play style.
He is not a loud or dramatic leader. Instead, he sets the tone through his work ethic, what he does on the field, and his readiness to physically put his body on the line for South Africa.
His teammates know they can look to him when the game gets tight, and small margins determine the winner.
Off the field, though, life has taken on a softer and more chaotic rhythm for the Sevens veteran.
Welcoming a new baby, Walter, has reshaped Visser’s routines and priorities in ways that have surprised even him. He may still be learning the finer details of parenting, but the joy he finds in the small, everyday moments has become a powerful anchor.
Despite the sleepless nights and the steep learning curve, fatherhood has given him something he never quite managed before: the ability to switch off. Where he once found himself replaying training sessions or matches long after they ended, his evenings are now filled with bottles, changing nappies, bath time, and the quiet contentment of simply being present.
Rugby continues to demand every bit of effort from him, but he’s discovered that the moments after training carry a different kind of importance. And, for the support from his wife, Sarrah, he is forever grateful.
“My son is eight months old now, but I’d rather chase a guy around on the field than change nappies,” Visser jokingly said.
“However, knowing that people are looking up to you and support you in whatever you do, makes things easier. You know, I do not want to stereotype, but females are better adapted to looking at kids. Sometimes, when I leave for work, and I look at how my wife does things, I am glad she is there.
“I know how difficult he can get and how much attention kids need. I would rather come and sweat here (at the Sevens) than do the hard yards with the kids. I have plenty of respect for women, and moms in particular, and for what they have to go through. We do not give them enough credit for what they do.”
The challenges of fatherhood echo, in their own way, the challenges of leadership: staying steady, staying available, and giving everything you can.
Balancing elite rugby with new parenthood is no small task. Some days demand everything, both physically and emotionally. Yet Visser navigates the dual roles with humility and gratitude. Rugby gives him purpose; his baby gives him perspective.
“Every day when I get back from work, I make a point of greeting my wife and then my son. To see him happy to see me, he knows now when I have been away for a while and that I am back. To see how happy that makes him, I can’t describe in words what I am experiencing.
“We are also humans; we have concerns outside of rugby. But that motivates us to give our best, knowing people are looking up to us.”
