Rugby Coach Weekly

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the 50:22 Podcast, Dan Cottrell and Stuart James explore how to use stress as a coaching tool, not through shouting but through smart, purposeful challenge. Discover how the right kind of pressure helps players build resilience, sharpen decision-making, and raise their own standards. Learn simple ways to add competition, intensity, and mindset training into your...

Send us Fan Mail Ben Herring returns to the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast to dive deeper into what he’s learned from speaking to some of the world’s top coaches. Drawing on his global coaching journey and his Coaching Culture podcast, Ben shares why grassroots rugby should focus on high care rather than high performance , why the 80% basics matter more than the 1% details , and how resilience and lea...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast, Dan Cottrell speaks with Neil Davies – Yorkshire Chair of Coach Development, Director of Rugby at Doncaster Demons, and Lead for the South Yorkshire Girls PDG.  Neil shares their unique approach to talent identification, explaining how Yorkshire’s "Roses" model builds on the STAR framework to assess skills, resilience, a...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell sits down with Owain Roberts , Coach Education and Development Manager at the NSW Waratahs and a Level 4 coach. Originally from Swansea, Owain’s journey has taken him from Welsh-speaking schools and UK teaching to the heart of Australian rugby. Together, they explore: How formative school and community experiences sha...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dan sits down with Will James, Director of Sport at Ampleforth College, former Wales international, and ex-Gloucester star, to explore the realities of schools rugby.  They tackle big topics, from the health of the game in the North East and the impact of concussion awareness, to balancing school–club relationships, the role of streaming in player development, and...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the 50:22 Podcast, Dan Cottrell and Stu James explore why great coaching starts with preparing yourself , not just your session plan.  Stu leads the discussion, drawing on his expertise in different workplace environments to inform his thinking on training day scenarios. From setting the right mindset to creating simple reset tools when things go off track, lear...

Send us Fan Mail What if your most impactful assistant coach is already on the sideline, holding a coffee and watching their child?  In this episode, Dan Cottrell and Stu James reframe how coaches can engage parents with purpose. From team emails to ‘parent wranglers’, discover how to create connection, reduce friction and build a shared culture that goes beyond the touchline. To find out more abo...

Send us Fan Mail Small-sided games aren’t just chaos—they’re your sharpest coaching tool. In this episode, Dan Cottrell and Stu James explore how to make games more purposeful by designing clear objectives, coaching one behaviour at a time, and helping players make better decisions under pressure. Clear rules. Smart design. Intentional outcomes. To find out more about this podcast and many others,...

Send us Fan Mail How You Start Changes Everything In this 8-minute episode, Dan Cottrell and Stu James dive into the power of the first five minutes of a session. From early wins to playful warm-ups without a ball, discover how to boost energy, build connection and benchmark your plan. Quick, practical and purposeful: start better, coach smarter. To find out more about this podcast and many others...

Send us Fan Mail In this powerful episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell sits down with Regan Sue, co-founder of Haka Rugby Global, to explore how Maori culture, adaptability, and people-first coaching have helped shape one of the world’s most culturally rich rugby initiatives.  Regan shares stories from over a decade of running 100+ camps across 50 countries, unpacking the deeper...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dan Cottrell speaks with Leicester Tigers player and Peak Team Performance founder, Tiana Gordon, about the power of soft skills in coaching.  Drawing on her academic background in neuroscience, psychology, and mental health, Tiana shares practical tools to help coaches improve communication, build genuine connections, and regulate their emotions under pressure. ...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Dan Cottrell catches up with the globetrotting coach and former pro player Ben Herring . From being told he was too small for the 1st XV to wrestling with his dad for jackal strength, Ben shares a raw and inspiring journey through rugby, coaching, and personal growth. Now Director of Rugby at Newington College and host of The Coaching Culture podcast, Ben reflects...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, host Dan Cottrell sits down with Dr. Michael Francis Pollin, a leading expert in coach development and coaching behaviours for player learning, development and performance. They dive into the fascinating world of creativity in rugby coaching, challenging traditional perceptions and exploring how creativity is not just a product bu...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast , Dan Cottrell sits down with Charlie Harrison, former professional player for Bath, Bedford, Rotherham and player/coach at Doncaster, ex-Head of Rugby at Marlborough College, and now coach of the U14s at Marlborough.  They discuss the transition from coaching First XV to working with younger players, the importance of game-based l...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast , Dan Cottrell sits down with Ben John, better known as The Rugby Trainer , to explore his unique coaching philosophy and the rise of his hugely popular online brand. Ben shares how he transitioned from professional rugby to skill-specific coaching, the impact of his viral content, and the importance of developing core rugby skills...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell welcomes Jamie Taylor—Assistant Professor of Elite Performance at Dublin City University, Academy Coach with Leicester Tigers, and Senior Coach Developer at Grey Matters UK.  Together, they dive into the practical aspects of coaching, discussing session planning, skill acquisition, and what it truly means to develop c...

Send us Fan Mail Tackling is at the heart of rugby, but what truly makes a tackle dominant or a miss?  In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast , host Dan Cottrell welcomes Oli Bishop , defence coach for Ealing Trailfinders Women and U23s , to break down the science behind effective tackling. Oli shares insights from his Level 4 RFU research , exploring the key characteristics of dominant...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast , Dan Cottrell sits down with Sam Halliday, a PE teacher and rugby coach working with the Oxfordshire U16 PDG squad and Brackley U14 girls.  Sam shares his insights on building a thriving coaching environment, fostering player ownership, and creating opportunities for girls in rugby.  He discusses the importance of peer-led learnin...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly Podcast , Dan Cottrell speaks with Lewis Hatchett—former professional cricketer, mindset coach, and creator of the MindStrong Sport app. They discuss perfectionism in sport , its benefits and drawbacks, and how it affects athletes and coaches. Lewis shares his personal experiences with perfectionism, explaining how it can drive high perfor...

Send us Fan Mail Raising funds for grassroots rugby can feel like an uphill battle, but Ed Flynn has cracked the code.  In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, host Dan Cottrell sits down with Ed, a coach and fundraising powerhouse, to uncover the strategies that have helped his clubs thrive.  From securing local business sponsorships to running hugely successful raffles and race nights...

Send us Fan Mail Join Dan Cottrell on the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast as he dives into a compelling conversation with Stuart Armstrong, renowned coach developer and host of The Talent Equation podcast.  Together, they tackle the nuanced topic of ethical coaching—what it means, why it matters, and how it can transform both grassroots and elite coaching environments. With insights drawn from Stuart’s...

Send us Fan Mail Join Rugby Coach Weekly's Dan Cottrell as he sits down with Marlo Boyd, Bath Rugby’s Development Officer, Bath University women's forward's coach and former Bristol Bears player.  Marlo opens up about her unconventional journey into rugby, the lessons she's learned about managing emotions—both hers and her players’—and how emotional intelligence can foster trus...

Send us Fan Mail Dan Cottrell welcomes Craig Wilson, director of rugby at Yale University and founder of The Contact Coach . Together, they explore practical, accessible approaches to video analysis for grassroots coaches.  Craig shares personal experiences of using simple tools—smartphones, clipboards, and a bit of creativity—to make analysis both effective and manageable, even without high-end t...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell welcomes Dr. Mark Carroll, a sports coach and lecturer at the University of the West of Scotland, and a host of Labours of Sports Coaching . Together, they delve into the myths and realities of motivation in sports coaching. This conversation challenges traditional approaches and offers fresh insights. From breaking d...

Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell discusses tackling in women’s rugby with Kathryn Dane, an international rugby player, sports scientist, and coach.  Kathryn, who has 23 caps for Ireland and is the coach for Ulster Women's Rugby and Old Belvedere, shares insights from her groundbreaking research into safety, skill acquisition, and performance in...