**Bryan Habana: Life Beyond Rugby, Sprinting Legacy, and a Touch of Old Trafford**
Bryan Habana, one of South Africa’s most celebrated sportsmen, has embarked on a new adventure seven years after bringing an illustrious rugby career to a close. Widely renowned for his speed and try-scoring prowess on the rugby field, Habana is set to swap codes and grace Manchester United’s Old Trafford, not with a rugby ball, but as part of the star-studded Soccer Aid charity fixture for UNICEF.
At 42, Habana finds himself in the unique position of being the only rugby player in the celebrity-packed World XI line-up. Come Sunday evening, he will be sharing the pitch with football legends such as Leonardo Bonucci, Nemanja Vidic, and Edwin van der Sar, under the guidance of Manchester United hero Peter Schmeichel. It is a testament to Habana’s enduring athletic reputation that his teammates are counting on his renowned pace to make a difference – even years after leaving professional sport.
During his playing days, Habana was nothing short of iconic. As the second-highest try-scorer in Test rugby history – a tally only surpassed by Japan’s Daisuke Ohata – Habana cemented his status among the sport’s all-time greats. Eight tries in the 2007 Rugby World Cup alone saw him match the legendary Jonah Lomu’s record, further etching his name into rugby folklore.
Retirement, however, has not slowed Habana’s relentless drive. Venturing into entrepreneurship, he co-founded Paymenow in 2019, a platform designed to improve financial wellness for South African workers by providing them with early wage access. “Our ambition is to better people’s lives,” Habana explained in an interview with Enterprise Africa, expressing pride in the company’s steady growth and the steadfastness of its close-knit team.
Alongside his business pursuits, Habana took stride into the technology sphere with Matchkit, a website builder intended to help athletes establish their personal brands online. While the venture’s social activity has quieted since last year, its mission—offering athletes better opportunities to connect with fans and sponsors—remains a relevant challenge in the digital era.
Charity work is another cornerstone of Habana’s post-rugby path. The Bryan Habana Foundation, established in 2014, operates in both the UK and his homeland with a determination to uplift those in dire straits. More recently, he has been named Chairman of Laureus Sport for Good South Africa, a role in which he aims to drive social progress through sport and provide hope for communities in need.
Media appearances also keep Habana firmly connected to his rugby roots. He is a regular presence on major sports networks including Sky Sports, ITV, and TNT Sports, sharing his expertise and unique perspective with international audiences.
Renowned for his acceleration on the wing, Habana still holds the title as the fastest South African international rugby player, clocking an impressive 10.4 seconds over 100 metres at his peak. To put that in perspective, he remains just a sliver behind Olympic legend Usain Bolt’s world record of 9.58 seconds. Though contemporaries like Sbu Nkosi and Cheslin Kolbe have come close, Habana’s speed remains the benchmark for South African wingers.
A less widely known chapter in Habana’s story is his unexpected connection to Manchester United. His given names, Bryan Gary Habana, pay tribute to two United icons from the 1980s—Bryan Robson and Gary Bailey. This unusual heritage sparked early dreams of football stardom, dreams which later gave way to a commitment to rugby following South Africa’s iconic World Cup victory in 1995.
Reflecting on his youth, Habana recalls the powerful emotional impact of witnessing the Springboks’ triumph, led by Nelson Mandela, which inspired him to follow in their footsteps and deliver hope through sport. “That moment taught me about unity, history, and the power of sport,” he once said. “Without it, I might never have played rugby at all.”
Habana’s journey from rugby pitch to boardroom, television studio, and now the hallowed turf of Old Trafford embodies an athlete finding fresh purpose after professional sport. As he joins the Soccer Aid spotlight, he does so not only as a Springbok legend but as a champion for change—on and off the field.