Rugby Coach Weekly Coaching with conviction, with Nash Cohen
Jan 28, 2026
Nash Cohen, performance coach and Programme Director at Elite Rugby Academy, shares coaching conviction from halftime turning points to youth development. He explores teaching through gamified drills, tackling as a momentum tool, pass mechanics, and using simple principles like time, space and possession. Short cues, tempo, and pedagogy over content recur throughout the conversation.
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Half‑Time That Changed A Coach
- Nash Cohen described a half-time moment with Saracens Girls U16 where his simple message changed their second-half performance.
- He felt overcome with emotion at their trust and called that moment the reason he knew coaching could reshape his life.
Rugby's Unique Character Building
- Nash argues rugby's physical, confrontational nature creates unique team bonding and character testing.
- He believes 15 players solving a problem together makes rugby especially powerful for development.
Teach Skills Through Games First
- Do teach young players with games that include lots of touches and competition before isolated drills.
- Use simple, finite coaching points for catching and passing like grip and follow-through.