Rugby Coach Weekly

Gary Townsend, head of rugby at Switch Rugby and former RFU National Player Development Manager, dives into the pivotal age for young players specializing as scrum halves and fly halves. He discusses the balance between diverse experience and targeted training, emphasizing the importance of passing skills and decision-making. Townsend advocates for individualized training that focuses on empowering young players in real-game scenarios while nurturing their talent without pressure for perfection.

Martin Haag, a high-performance team and executive coach with a rich rugby background, dives into the crucial role of coaching philosophy. He discusses how personal beliefs shape relationships between coaches and players. Haag emphasizes the need for empowering players in their training while balancing guidance and autonomy. He shares insights on building consistent coaching practices and the evolution of one’s coaching philosophy through mentorship and hands-on experiences. Get ready for a compelling conversation on how to inspire and develop athletes!

Nic Evans, a former rugby player for Wales and an experienced L4 coach, dives deep into the challenges women face in coaching, especially in a male-dominated sport like rugby. She discusses the stereotype barriers that hinder women's professional opportunities and emphasizes the urgent need for inclusive hiring practices. Drawing from personal stories, Nic highlights the power of patience and relationship-building in overcoming biases. The conversation also celebrates female achievements in rugby, showcasing how representation can inspire future generations.

Will Owen, one half of the Squidge Rugby duo, is a passionate analyst and coach in the rugby world. He shares insights on how Squidge Rugby began and the journey of translating complex game strategies for fans. Will discusses the balance between analysis and coaching, the role of revenue in content creation, and the influence of top coaches in innovating the game. He also reflects on memorable matches and the unique position of being both a player and analyst, emphasizing how this dual role informs his coaching style.

Gavin Blackburn, Head Coach of Cambuslang RFC and a former international prop, shares his expert insights on tackling the challenges of dominated scrums. He discusses key techniques for mastering body alignment and positioning while emphasizing the vital connection between the hooker and scrum half. Gavin also highlights effective drills that simulate match pressure, helping players build confidence regardless of their strength. Plus, he reflects on his coaching philosophy, shaped by influential figures and personal experiences that emphasize preparation and patience.

Send us a textDr Jocelyn Solomons tackles significant issues in women's sports.In this episode, she talks to Lyndon Julius about the role of media in this domain.Lyndon is a communications specialist and creative storyteller with over a decade of experience in sports reporting. He is dedicated to community sports and immerses himself in grassroots athletic endeavours. With written and digital media expertise, they delve into his insights on the global impact of sports reporting, particularly concerning women’s sports. They discuss his experiences in writing and reporting on women’s sports, the effect of media coverage on the growth and recognition of female athletes, and the media's responsibility for equitable coverage of women’s sports, both locally and internationally. To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, tap into the library of 4,000 pages of activities, advice, tactics and tips to help you become the best rugby coach you can be!

Send us a textWelcome to the Coaching Knife when we cut to the root of the matter. In this episode, we speak to Jamie Barnwell, Head Coach Cayman 7s and Performance director.Focusing on 7s rugby we are going to cut to the root on to coach to compete when you have limited speed.Can you win a game of sevens if you don’t have any pace in your team?Jamie spent five years as head coach of the Bermuda national team for both 15 and 7s. Back in the UK he was attack coach with Richmond, and head of coach of the England senior women’s academ.His philosophy is to inspire, and facilitate a group to become better, people, athletes and a team.Go to the Rugby7splaybook on Substack for some excellent resources and games to improve your 7s coaching.You can contact him on thebarnwells138@gmail.comTo find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, tap into the library of 4,000 pages of activities, advice, tactics and tips to help you become the best rugby coach you can be!

Send us a textDan speaks to Stuart Welsh, founder of ALTA Education. With nearly two decades of experience in education, specialising in maths teaching and as well as coaching rugby in schools, Stuart is a well-sought-after speaker and presenter.He has taught and led teams in schools worldwide, authored popular math textbooks, and founded a widely-used educational website used by tens of thousands of students every year. He is passionate about research-based pedagogy and committed to improving teaching and learning globally through ALTA Education.In the podcast, we discuss:The importance of acknowledging the novice-expert continuumHow novices and experts learn differentlyHow to differentiate effectivelyHow experts are novices, tooWhat is variation theory in education, and how it could work in a training sessionIf you want to contact Stuart, email him at stuart@alta-education.com To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, tap into the library of 4,000 pages of activities, advice, tactics and tips to help you become the best rugby coach you can be!

Send us a textWe speak to Ben Lazenby, Head of Youth at Wakefield Trinity RLFC in this episode.Focusing on game understanding we are going to cut to the root on how a player-centred approach might lead to a shared collective team cohesion.The first question: Is a player-centred approach to game understanding just us waiting for the players to give us the right answer?Previously, Ben was the Academy Pathway manager at Ealing Trailfinders, Academy General Manager at Hull Kingston Rovers, Yorkshire Carnegie academy manager. Plus had roles at Warrington Wolves and as a coach educator at Rugby Football League.His philosophy is to fill the gaps and provide the players and staff with what they need through collaboration, openness, and detailed analysis.You can contact him on LinkedIn: Ben Lazenby To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, tap into the library of 4,000 pages of activities, advice, tactics and tips to help you become the best rugby coach you can be!

Send us a textDan speaks to Cath Bishop about what winning really means and how we can create the right sort of winning in our sporting environments.Cath is a highly sought-after consultant and coach, an Olympian, former diplomat and author of The Long Win, the second edition published in May. She is also a regular contributor to the Guardian and a podcast host.Visit her website here, where she offers lots of practical ways to improve your decision-making. You can also purchase the book. To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyAlso, tap into the library of 4,000 pages of activities, advice, tactics and tips to help you become the best rugby coach you can be!