307) Huw Jones - Pressure & Peak Performance in Elite Rugby

May 4, 2025

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Today’s conversation is with Huw Jones, Glasgow Warriors & Scottish international rugby star.

You may know him nowadays as one of the most exciting outside centres in world rugby, but we go back way before that to understand his journey from gap year teacher in Cape Town to Test match try-scorer. Huw’s story is anything but ordinary.

We discuss his unique pathway to professional rugby, including how a gap year in South Africa unexpectedly became the launchpad for a career at the highest level. Huw reflects on his time with the Stormers, the influence of key coaches, and how a Wikipedia listing led to his Scotland call-up.

We dive into:

Why Huw went to South Africa instead of a UK academy
How he went from Bishops school to playing Super Rugby for the Stormers
Facing Ma’a Nonu & Conrad Smith in his first professional game
Getting spotted by Scotland via a flag on Wikipedia
Announcing himself on the international stage with a double vs Australia
Dealing with injury setbacks and missing out on the 2019 World Cup
His time with Harlequins and adapting to English rugby
The mental and physical routines that support his elite performance
Recovery methods including saunas, magnesium, ice baths, and supplements like electrolytes
Balancing strength, skills, and speed work throughout the season
Match day mindset, routines, and pre-game preparation
What it will take for Scotland to win a Six Nations Championship

We also talk about longevity, off-field habits, and what a successful final chapter of his career looks like — including the touring with the British & Irish Lions in Australia.

If you're interested in sport, mindset, and the finding your own path to success, you’ll get so much from Huw’s honesty in this conversation.

Today’s episode is optimised by Puresport. You can save 10% using CAMBRO10 at the link - https://bit.ly/3RmVT0V

Connect with Huw:

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/hrfjones/

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/hrfjones/

X - https://x.com/hrfjones

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