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What do you stabilise first when you inherit a team at the bottom of the table?

In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell speaks with Ross Bundy, Head Coach of Leicester Tigers Women, about leading a rebuild in a high-pressure, semi-professional environment.

Ross shares an unfiltered account of what really matters when results are hard to come by. Rather than chasing quick fixes, he explains why values, defensive standards, contact dominance, discipline, and law understanding became the foundation for long-term progress. The conversation explores how to be brutally honest while keeping belief high, how to simplify systems without lowering standards, and how to measure improvement when the scoreboard does not reflect the full picture.

This is a grounded, practical discussion for coaches who are building from a low starting point and need clarity, patience, and conviction.

PS, Ross is one of the youngest pro-coaches in the game right now - only 26!

Key takeaways for coaches

Stabilise culture before tactics: Values on and off the pitch must be clear, protected, and visible, especially when results are poor.
Honesty builds trust: Players respond better to clear, direct feedback than vague reassurance, as long as progress is recognised.
Defence and contact set the floor: You cannot compete consistently without collision dominance, defensive connection, and discipline.
Discipline is a technical skill: Many penalties come from passive contact and poor post-tackle behaviour, not ill intent.
Law understanding creates advantage: Coaching the laws deliberately leads to smarter decisions and fewer “cheap” penalties.
Simplify to accelerate learning: Fewer systems, executed well, beat complexity when time together is limited.
Progress is more than the scoreline: Improvements in behaviours, effort, and standards often appear before results do.
Small wins matter: Tackles made, penalties reduced, values shown, and cohesion built are all markers of momentum.

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