Much like David Pocock, Clyde Rathbone is a social campaigner and moralist, someone who thinks far beyond rugby’s narrow confines.

It was probably a good thing he upped sticks and moved from the SA south coast to Canberra where his libertarian values and philosophical bent were doubtless better appreciated. He always was a square peg in a round hole. This week he wrote a thought-provoking piece that puts elite-level rugby in perspective.

While on the subject of thoughtful rugby players – there are a couple – SA-born writer Donald McRae nailed down a solid interview with rising England rugby star Maro Itoje. A likely England captain before long, he seems like a fascinating guy who treasures his African roots.

He’s in year three of a politics degree and despairs at the common depiction of Africa (his parents hail from Nigeria). It’s an excellent read by one of the finest profile writers in the business.

I would normally roll my eyes at another diet/weight loss/exercise story, but this article on vox.com offers a fresh (and depressing) view on why you shouldn’t exercise to lose weight.

It doesn’t dispute the health benefits of working out, but it forces an abrupt re-think of doing so. Good food for thought, so to speak.

Hitch-hiking doesn’t have even a tangential link to sport, but this read grabbed me nonetheless. I hitch-hiked plenty as a youngster, but it’s a habit that has gone the way of newspapers and video machines. Still, it retains some appeal, particularly doing so across America, so long as you avoid the serial killers.

Check it out. It’s nicely done with a neat denouement.

I’d recommend setting aside 20-odd minutes for this high-quality takeout on Ben Bradlee’s memoir of his years at the Washington Post. It’s a rollicking read and extraordinary to find out about the famous newspaperman’s close friendship with JFK.