Bench Warmers, Buy-In, and Being Different, with Ben Herring

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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 on how being underestimated shaped his coaching philosophy, why finding your niche is key to player success, and what it really means to develop team culture without losing individuality. The conversation travels from Japan to New Zealand to professional club rugby, touching on topics like over-coaching, player psychology, bench dynamics, and how stoic philosophy inspired a team-wide cultural shift.

A must-listen for any coach, educator, or rugby lover looking to lead with empathy and impact.

🔗 Highlights include:

• Being cut from school teams and how that built resilience
• Coaching culture lessons from Japan
• The role of repetition and language in learning
• Why sometimes it's OK to say, "Stuff the structure"
• Creating a unique team identity around stoicism
• How to balance team-first mentality with individual strengths

Here's a link to his show:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coaching-culture-with-ben-herring/id1788635110

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