Canterbury Rugby's Coaches Corner

Nathan Wallis is a father of three & foster parent with a professional background in child counselling, teaching and social service management.

He lectured in Human Development at the University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand and was also a board member and senior trainer with the national body responsible for the dissemination of neuroscientific research to professionals.

He has developed a reputation as a lively...

In this episode, Riki chats with Associate Professor and coach developer Ian Renshaw. Ian's pioneering work on constraints-based coaching is helping coaches create engaging, effective, and transferable training sessions. Discover how manipulating constraints can enhance skill development, foster creativity, and improve performance in real-game scenarios. Tune in to learn practical strategies for implementing this innovative app...

It’s not every day that you get to hear how New Zealand's most successful Super Rugby Franchises work.

In this Ep Riki spends time with Crusaders Team Manager Shane Fletcher. Sharing his insights into what keeps the Crusaders wheels in motion, he's the man behind the team keeping things well oiled.

You’ll hear how important it is to know your people and how they work, but also how having trademarks that represent your team...

If you're reading this, you're already committed to professional development and understand its importance. But how far are you willing to stretch yourself to grow?

In this episode, Riki sits down with his good friend Ross Doneghan, Head Coach of the Richmond Women's team in London. Ross has travelled all the way to Christchurch to attend the Crusaders International Academy for coaches and learn from New Zealand's ...

Coaching can be frustrating, especially when dealing with challenging players. In this episode, Riki chats with Rolleston Principal and E Tū Tāngata ambassador, Simon Moriarty, about transforming your most difficult players into your biggest champions.

Simon, who navigates the unpredictable world of children and adults daily, shares practical examples and strategies from his extensive experience.

Discover how to turn disruptive p...

What are you doing to ensure your players return year after year? If you're struggling to come up with fresh ideas, this episode will help clear the brain fog!

Join Riki as he talks with GE Medical Industrial Designer Doug Dietz, a world leader in design thinking. Doug's innovative approach keeps the user at the forefront of his designs, leading to children eagerly asking their parents for another turn in his MRI machines....

Are you an ambitious coach eager to learn the secrets of high-performance coaching?

Join Riki as he sits down with esteemed High Performance Coach Developer, Richard (RJ) Smith. With over 20 years of experience, RJ shares invaluable insights and wisdom from his extensive career.

Listen in as he recounts his journey working with elite coaches in rugby and the Olympics, and his consultancy with some of New Zealand's largest comp...

This week Riki spends time with legendary netball coach, Leigh Gibbs. Leigh shares her years of experience on how having the mindset of ‘they're not your players’ will help grow your self-awareness so you can focus on developing your players as people and not just athletes. 

Leigh leads Netball New Zealand’s as Community Coaching Manager and with her combined international coaching experience her insight is truly valuable to ...

For a delightful twist, Riki teams up with two remarkable individuals: Kyle Mclean, Director and Creator of the IntaSport App, and Jay Carter from New Zealand Golf.

These two gentlemen are not only hosts of their own phenomenal podcasts but also esteemed figures in their respective fields.

In this engaging conversation, the trio shares their recent musings and curiosities, offering listeners a candid glimpse into their worlds.

J...

In a dynamic sport like Rugby, team cohesion is paramount. Join Riki in an insightful conversation with researcher and international hockey coach, Pam Richards.

Pam's expertise extends beyond coaching skill; her research delves into the intricacies of decision-making and the development of mental models to foster synchronicity within teams.

This episode offers a window into Pam's groundbreaking work, providing valuable in...

In this episode Riki explores behaviour driven coaching to help inspire players/ athletes to be long time learners and lovers of their sports. 

Wayne Goldsmith is a renowned figure in the realm of coaching and coach development, celebrated for his transformative impact on the sporting world. With an illustrious career spanning over three decades, Goldsmith has emerged as a sought-after authority, guiding coaches towards excellence ...

For many of us, coaching is a labour of love—a fusion of our passion for sports and our desire to work with people.

In this enlightening episode, Riki engages in a heartfelt conversation with John O'Sullivan, the CEO and Founder of Changing the Game Project.

John's profound dedication to youth sports shines through as we explore the pivotal question: How do we maintain the joy in youth sports and become the kind of coach ...

Get ready to embark on a fascinating journey in this week's episode as Riki hops aboard his magical school bus to chat with Professor Cliff Abraham from Otago University.

Together, they explore the intriguing question: Can you teach an old dog new tricks? Professor Abraham, with his profound expertise in the neural mechanisms of memory, sheds light on this age-old query.

As a pioneer in neuroscience research and education at ...