This week’s Pacey Performance Podcast guest is Simon Thomas. Simon spent five seasons as the Head of Physical Performance for the Crusaders in Super Rugby, and has now moved on to Major League Rugby side Austin Gilgronis in the United States. Following four titles in New Zealand with Crusaders, Simon decided to take on a new challenge in Texas, joining up with head coach Sam Harris whom he had previously worked with at Honda Heat in Japan. Simon is here to talk about the growth of Major League Rugby, the cultural differences between the sport in traditional rugby nations and the USA, and how there are 300 million rugby fans who just don’t know it yet.

In addition to life in Texas at a fledgling side, Simon also discusses how to set up a successful preseason training camp, including the values to establish, the key objectives, and reflection on the group and their achievements the previous year. One of these training camps proved controversial as the team trained with the US Navy SEALs – as observers on social media waded in with opinions on whether that style of training was appropriate. However, Simon here explains the background behind it all, including the planning and preparation that led to it happening.

This background included the psychological element to the training camp, including how to get players into a routine of accountability, communication, and responding to effective leadership. Simon also talks about how to build trusting relationships between coaches and the team to allow this to happen, plus what the markers of a successful preseason can be. For all this, hit the play button now to get the real truth behind this viral story.

This week’s topics:

• The growth of Major League Rugby
• The origins of the Gilgronis name
• The cultural differences between coaching in New Zealand and Texas
• Developing a successful preseason camp
• How training with the Navy SEALs helped the Gilgronis during preseason
• How that SEALs training session became a social media sensation – and how it was misunderstood
• Why that training didn’t reflect the preparation and planning behind it
• Getting players into a routine of accountability and communication
• The importance of building relationships with coaches and avoiding friction
• The markers of success for a preseason