Rugby Coach Weekly

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Dan Cottrell speaks to Mark Williams, head coach of North Division U18s, lead rugby coach at Birkenhead School, a forward's coach with Lymm in National Two, and Liverpool John Moores University director of rugby,The conversation starts with the value of coaching relationships, especially the importance of having trusted people around you who will challenge lazy...

Send us Fan MailPads, tackle shields and crash mats can be some of the most useful kit in a rugby session, but only when coaches know exactly why they are using them.In this 50:22 episode, Dan Cottrell and Stu James discuss the role of contact equipment in training. They explore how pads can reduce impact, build confidence, develop body shape and allow players to enjoy physicality, while also...

Send us Fan MailOne in five players may be neurodivergent, and rugby is often a sport that attracts players who think, learn and experience the world differently. The good news? The coaching adjustments that help neurodivergent players often make coaching better for everyone. In this episode, Dan Cottrell and Stuart James explore practical ways coaches can create more inclusive environments...

Send us Fan MailFault correction sits at the heart of coaching, but done poorly it kills flow, confidence and learning. In this episode, Dan Cottrell and Stu James break down how to intervene with purpose, so players improve without feeling overwhelmed or criticised.They explore how coaches often chase a “perfect” technical model that doesn’t match the player in front of them, and why...

Send us Fan MailWhat if the biggest thing holding your players back is not skill but belief?In this episode, Dan Cottrell, head coach at Rugby Coach Weekly and Stuart James, coach developer at Guildford RFC, unpack one of the most overlooked areas in coaching. While most sessions are built around skills and rules, belief is often left untouched, yet it may be the very thing that unlocks...

Send us Fan MailWhat really wins rugby matches — instinct or insight?In this episode, Dan Cottrell sits down with rugby analyst, journalist, and coach Sam Larner to unpack the growing influence of data in the modern game — and what it actually means for coaches on the pitch.From Six Nations trends to grassroots realities, Sam brings clarity to the numbers behind performance. Together, they...

Send us Fan MailIn this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell speaks to coach and former professional player Sam Mace about the journey from playing to coaching and the lessons that shaped his philosophy.Sam played professionally in Major League Rugby with the Toronto Arrows, before concussion injuries forced him to retire early. That experience changed the direction of his...

Send us Fan MailWhat does sustainable performance actually look like in elite sport and leadership?In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan speaks with Lúcás Ó’Ceallacháin, a high-performance coach and leadership specialist who has worked across rugby, wrestling, artistic swimming, ballet and Olympic systems worldwide.Lúcás helps leaders build performance “one brick at a time”...

Send us Fan MailWhat does it really mean to be the adult in the room?In this powerful and honest conversation, I sit down with Tara Lynn, transformational coach and trusted adviser to high performers who have reached the edge of what got them here. We explore how leaders and coaches can regulate themselves under pressure, avoid slipping into “parent” or “child” reactions, and communicate with...

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Dan Cottrell is joined once again by skill acquisition specialist Job Fransen, Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University and Managing Director of SkillACQ.Together they explore what really matters in coaching practice design, feedback, and player development.Job shares why elite coaches rarely need “disrupting,” why most coaches intervene too quickly, and...