The Rugby Muscle Podcast

In this episode, I break down the most effective lower body movements I use to build rugby strength, speed, and resilience. I explain how each exercise transfers directly to on-field performance and how to program them correctly for real results.Join Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

In this episode, I break down the biggest mistake amateur rugby players make in the gym, copying pro-level training. I share my own journey, explain why pro methods don’t work for players balancing work, school, and life, and show the simple framework I use to help athletes get stronger, fitter, faster, and stay injury-free. I also walk you through my first-principles approach so you can build a sustainable system that actually improves your rugby performance. In this episode:00:00 Introduction: The Common Mistake in Rugby Training01:40 Personal Journey: From Amateur to Coach03:04 The Problem of Information Overload04:31 The Reality of Amateur Training07:11 The First Principles Approach09:44 Conclusion: Building a Sustainable Training SystemJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the showSupport the show

In this episode, I break down one of the biggest problems I see in rugby strength training players who lift hard in the gym but don’t actually get stronger where it matters: on the field.After 15+ years coaching rugby athletes, I’ve seen it over and over again, guys following bodybuilding or powerlifting programs that don’t translate to real rugby performance. So today, I explain two proven approaches I use with my athletes.In this episode: 00:00 Intro01:49 Common Mistakes in Rugby Strength Training05:42 The Berserker Approach: Max Effort Method07:41 The Tactician Approach: Percentage-Based Progression09:29 Why These Methods Work10:44 Wrap upJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

The 10 biggest strength and conditioning mistakes I see rugby players make from overtraining and poor recovery to chasing the wrong goals. I’ll break down each one and show you how to fix them so you can perform better on the field. In this episode: 00:00 Intro01:30 Too Low-Level to Care03:10 Too Much Gym Time05:20 Expecting Perfect Recovery07:50 Chasing Leanness10:30 Overthinking Conditioning11:50 Overthinking Exercises14:15 Perfect Weeks Myth15:25 Perfect Sessions Myth17:10 Distracted Goals19:40 Procrastinating21:20 Wrap up As we put the finishing touches on the Rugby Recovery Code, get early access by requesting it herePlaybookJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

In this episode, I break down why most recovery methods don’t actually work. I explain what true recovery really is, how it ties into your training, and why you don’t need fancy stuff to make progress.In this video00:00 Intro01:44 The Modern Recovery Industry02:55 Understanding True Recovery04:27 The Three Main Reasons for Recovery04:42 Training Hard Enough to Make Progress06:57 Making Adaptations Through Recovery09:02 Handling the Demands of Rugby11:36 Integrating Recovery into Training12:28 Wrap upAs we put the finishing touches on the Rugby Recovery Code, get early access by requesting it herePlaybookJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

In this video, I share my top 7 tips to help you minimize injury risk in rugby. From building strength and fitness to improving technique, managing training load, and recovering properly, these are the exact strategies I use to keep players strong, fit, and ready all season.In this episode: 00:00 Intro01:52 Tip 1: Accept the Risk of Rugby04:03 Tip 2: Get Strong05:57 Tip 3: Get Fit07:08 Tip 4: Improve Your Technique08:21 Tip 5: Expose Yourself to Game Stresses10:04 Tip 6: Manage Your Load12:00 Tip 7: Manage Your Recovery13:20 Wrap upPlaybookJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

In this episode, I break down why rugby players shouldn’t train like bodybuilders if they want to perform at their best on the pitch. I share the key differences between bodybuilding and rugby training, why strength and conditioning matter more than just looking big, and how to actually train like an athlete.00:00 Intro01:27 More Than Just Muscle Growth02:40 Conditioning is Key03:53 Functional Muscle Performance06:25 Managing Fatigue and Training Load08:13 The Fun and Reward of Training Like an Athlete10:03 Embrace the Rugby Athlete MindsetJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

In this video, I break down a big mistake I see all the time in rugby training like an athlete instead of as an athlete. I share my personal experience, including a story about a top-level player getting crushed by CrossFit, and explain why generic athlete training doesn’t cut it for rugby. You’ll learn how to align your strength and conditioning with the actual demands of the game, plus get free tools to help you train smarter with Rugby Muscle.In this video:00:00 Intro01:00 Understanding the Difference: Training Like an Athlete vs. Training as an Athlete02:03 A Personal Story: The CrossFit Experience03:57 The Key Differences in Training Approaches07:49 Building the Right Base for Rugby08:27 Aligning S&C with Rugby Training10:28 Identifying Your Needs as a Rugby Player12:22 Wrap upJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

In this episode, I open up about my biggest nutrition mistake as a rugby player. I share how I fixed it and what you can do instead for long-term success on and off the field.In this video: 00:00 Intro00:40 The Biggest Nutrition Mistake01:33 Early Struggles with Diet and Training02:07 The Paleo Diet and Its Pitfalls04:01 The Cycle of Restriction and Binge Eating06:37 Breaking the Cycle and Finding Balance08:56 Flexible Dieting and Long-Term Solutions10:33 Final Thoughts and TakeawaysJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

In this episode, I dive into the parts of rugby culture we don’t always talk about, from social pressure to training habits. I break down what’s really helping your progress and what might be slowing it down, even if it feels normal. Let’s get real about what matters for long-term success in the sport.00:00 Intro01:18 The Social Side of Rugby05:21 Lazy Touch06:33 Taking Training Seriously07:38 Avoiding the Blame Game10:37 The Power of Banter11:31 Openness to Learning13:01 Final ThoughtsJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show