Rugby Coach Weekly
Dan Cottrell and guests discuss all the hot topics in grass roots rugby coaching from managing concussion to dealing with parents.
Episodes
What do you stabilise first when you inherit a team at the bottom of the table?
In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell speaks with Ross Bundy, Head Coach of Leicester Tigers Women, about leading a rebuild in a high-pressure, semi-professional environment.
Ross shares an unfiltered account of what really matters when results are hard to come by. Rather than chasing quick fixes, he explains why va...
In this episode, Dan Cottrell is joined by Phil Kearney, Associate Professor at the University of Limerick and co-founder of an organisation focused on developing a positive community of practice in skill acquisition
Together, they challenge one of coaching’s most ingrained habits: starting session design with drills, outcomes, and end goals rather than with how players actually learn. Drawing on skill acquisition rese...
In this Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell sits down with Darren Rea, John Peel, and Gareth Lewis to explore how inclusive SEND rugby has grown from a few Sunday sessions into a powerful community movement known as KatieFest.
Together, they share how simple, values-led coaching has created safe, joyful, and challenging rugby environments for players with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, while also brin...
In this Rugby Coach Weekly episode, Dan sits down with Emily Pratt, Strength and Conditioning Coach for the England Women’s U20s, to unpack the brand new U16 Foundational Athletic Development and U18 Athletic Development programmes reshaping the female pathway.
Emily explains how England Rugby is shifting the landscape for young female athletes. She and Dan explore:
- How potential is identified beyond “ready-made” at...
In this episode, Dan sits down with India Perris-Redding, one of the driving forces behind women and girls’ rugby in the North of England. Over nearly seven years with Sale Sharks Foundation, India has shaped a transformational pathway for girls’ rugby, from primary school beginners to academy-level athletes.
India shares the story behind Girls Tackle Rugby, the groundbreaking programme she built from scratch to bridge...
In this Rugby Coach Weekly episode, Dan Cottrell sits down with Benny Williams, one of the leading voices shaping the girls’ and women’s game in England. As the Girls’ PDG Coach Lead for England Rugby, Benny oversees the national U18s curriculum, supports coach development, and helps identify the next generation of Red Roses.
Benny takes us inside the newly designed U16 and U18 curriculums, explaining how the RFU built...
Head coach Dan Cottrell is joined by Russell McClusky and Phil Greenaway for a lively, practical chat drawn from years across schools, clubs, and university rugby.
As hosts of the Little and Large Podcast, they bring a wealth of experience from their times as directors of sport and heads of games.
They tackle how to handle one-sided school fixtures without punishing your best players, why the referee’s feel for the gam...
How much talking is too much? In this episode, Dan Cottrell and Stuart James explore how coaches can make every word count. From the power of the short, purposeful chat to the art of explaining the how, what, and why in under a minute, they share practical ways to sharpen communication and boost player engagement.
Discover why the best sessions often start with fewer words, clearer intent, and more playing time — and h...
In this episode of The 50:22 Podcast, Dan Cottrell and Stu James explore why focusing on perfect technique can hold players back.
Instead of trying to tick off isolated skills, they discuss how layering, context, and repetition help players understand what to do and when to do it.
The aim is to move from drills to decisions, from repetition to recognition.
Learn how to guide players toward real game sense and long-ter...
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 sessions without losing calm, connect...
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 leadership can be actively coached.
This epi...
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, and receptiveness in young players. He d...
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 shaped his approach to coaching
- Why humil...
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 the thorny issue of scholarships.
Will...
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, learn how to arrive confident, stay adaptable...
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 about this podcast and many others, go to R...
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, go to Rugby Coach Weekly
To find out m...
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, go to Rugby Coach Weekl...
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 meaning behind the haka, the power of ...
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.
From managing difficult player conversat...
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