Our Great Coach on this episode is Gareth Baber.

Gareth is a Welsh, former rugby player, and now a rugby coach.

As a player he represented Oxford University and Pontypriff in their European Shield victory in 2001.

He transitioned into coaching in 2008, becoming an Assistant for the Wales Under 20 side, before eventually becoming the Head Coach of Cardiff Blues.

In 2013 he became head of Hong Kong men's rugby sevens and also directed the senior men's, women's and youth programs.

In 2016 he became the coach of the Fiji Men 7’s, ultimately leading them to 11 tournament victories, including the 2019 World championship and the gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the 2nd Olympic medal in the nation’s history.

Gareth is a coach who takes great pride and satisfaction in seeing people release their potential. And to achieve this, he focuses on challenging his players and staff to think differently about themselves and the process they are involved in.

His is also organized, thoughtful and empowering, and sees himself as being more than just a rugby coach, but rather someone who is also responsible for building the culture that surrounds people both on and off the field.

Some of the other key highlights of the interview were Gareth’s thoughts on

• The importance of mental skills coaches in helping you maintain consistency and focus your attention. And how as a leader he used this to ensure the team embraced accountability.
• The importance of being able to have self-leadership and put yourself in a position where you are able to fulfil your potential.
• And how it is the people who are chasing a better version of themselves, who normally go on to place themselves in the best position possible to realise their potential.

This was a great conversation, my first with a Welsh coach.

If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com

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