Abstract

Despite the increasing visibility of young Pacific men in professional rugby union and rugby league and numerous Pacific male athletes disclosing their mental health challenges, no research has been undertaken to explore the factors that contribute to mental wellbeing for this group. This study explored the mental health and wellbeing experiences of young Pacific men playing elite rugby union and rugby league using face-to-face interviews with twenty young Pacific men (16–24 years) playing for elite rugby union and rugby league teams in New Zealand. Key protective factors for participants’ mental wellbeing centered round social connectedness, which influenced the cultivation of positive relationships with family, friends, teammates, team staff, and partners and heavily influenced the development of participants’ athletic identities. The church was also a key source of social support and connectedness for participants. However, many of these same support systems were also sources of immense pressure for participants, who emphasized the complexities of balancing family and cultural obligations against the backdrop of professional sports and hypervisibility. This study highlights the nuances of promoting and protecting mental wellbeing for young Pacific athletes in professional rugby union and rugby league and the vital need to implement culturally appropriate approaches when supporting mental wellbeing for this group.