Podcast · Sport

Rugby Coach Weekly

by Dan Cottrell · English · Sport

Dan Cottrell and guests discuss all the hot topics in grass roots rugby coaching from managing concussion to dealing with parents.

New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 50 min
Latest: 14 Oct 2026
Language: English

Latest episode

14 Oct 2026 · 58 minNew

Keeping players on the pitch: what coaches can do with Chris Jenkins

Send us Fan Mail You’ve got 90 minutes of training, a match to prepare for and a few players carrying knocks. How much can you realistically do to reduce the risk of injury? Dan Cottrell talks to chartered physiotherapist Chris Jenkins, known online as The Rugby Injury Physio, about practical changes coaches can make with limited time and resources. Chris brings more than 25 years’ experience, including working as Russia’s head physio at the 2019 Rugby World Cup and with Canada Rugby ,USA wom...

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Earlier episodes 29 most recent

12 Aug 2026 · 1 hr
Top tips for refereeing age grade rugby for 2026 season
Send us Fan Mail Refereeing age-grade rugby is rarely straightforward, particularly when you are also the coach. Dan Cottrell is joined by Advantage Over podcast host and laws expert Keith Lewis to explore how coaches with a whistle can create a safer, fairer and more enjoyable game. They discuss managing players, coaches and parents, applying the laws in context, finding the right position at the breakdown and knowing when to communicate or let the game flow. A practical conversation for any...
S13 · E12 · 1 Jul 2026 · 52 min
Talent, Pathways and Potential, with Martin Mctaggart
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell speaks to Martin McTaggart, RFU Playing Pathways Manager, about the EDGE framework, a way of helping coaches, selectors and pathway volunteers think more clearly about potential in young players. Martin explains why current performance can be a poor guide to future potential, especially when players arrive with very different rugby backgrounds, sporting experiences and levels of opportunity. A player who has had ...
S13 · E11 · 24 Jun 2026 · 57 min
Honesty, Detail and the Art of Coaching the Scrum, with Mark Williams
Send us Fan Mail In 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 planning, sharpen your thinking, and keep you honest. Mark reflects on working with Sarah Jones, a...
S20 · E11 · 17 Jun 2026 · 8 min
50 22 The pros and cons pads, shields and tubes
Send us Fan Mail Pads, 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 warning against the false habits they can create if players hit them in ways they would never use i...
S20 · E10 · 10 Jun 2026 · 9 min
50 22 Tools for neurodivergent inclusion
Send us Fan Mail One 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 without overcomplicating their sessions. The discussion covers the importance of language, under...
S20 · E9 · 6 May 2026 · 9 min
50:22 Fault correction and when to say nothing
Send us Fan Mail Fault 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 understanding stage of development is critical before stepping in. From knowing when to leave players to se...
S20 · E8 · 29 Apr 2026 · 9 min
50:22 Coaching Belief, Not Just Skill
Send us Fan Mail What 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 performance. They explore why belief is not just mindset or empty praise, but a player’s identity, ...
S13 · E10 · 25 Mar 2026 · 46 min
The biggest myths in rugby stats, with Sam Larner
Send us Fan Mail What 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 explore why territory often matters more than possession, how 22 entries shape outcomes, and why some...
S13 · E9 · 18 Mar 2026 · 52 min
What Instagram clips don’t show about coaching, with Sam Mace of SMPerformance
Send us Fan Mail In 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 career and sparked a passion for coaching that is now reaching thousands of players and coaches onli...
S13 · E8 · 11 Mar 2026 · 56 min
Sustainable performance in high-pressure environments
Send us Fan Mail What 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” through social learning, psychological safety and deliberate coaching design. From coaching in...
S13 · E8 · 4 Mar 2026 · 58 min
Be the adult in the room, with Tara Lynn
Send us Fan Mail What 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 clarity instead of ego. Tara shares her A.D.U.L.T framework, breaks down the difference between tra...
S13 · E7 · 25 Feb 2026 · 57 min
Skill Acquisition Without the Noise and Coaching Through Mistakes with Job Fransen
Send us Fan Mail In 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 why sometimes the best coaching decision is to step back and let players solve the problem. They ...
S13 · E7 · 18 Feb 2026 · 46 min
Inside The Rugby Paper: How rugby stories are built every week
Send us Fan Mail What actually happens on a Saturday night when the final whistle blows and rugby stories still need to be told? In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan is joined by Ben Jaycock, assistant editor at The Rugby Paper, to explore how parts of a national rugby newspaper are produced under extreme time pressure. While much of The Rugby Paper is planned days in advance, Ben explains how key match reports, ratings, and analysis are written live as games unfold and file...
S13 · E6 · 11 Feb 2026 · 51 min
Building the future of English rugby, with Steve Grainger
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell sits down with Steve Grainger, Executive Director of Rugby Development at England Rugby, for an open and thoughtful conversation about the state of the community game. They explore how rugby is changing at grassroots level, from schools and clubs to coach education, workforce models, and the rise of T1 Rugby. Steve shares what has stayed stubbornly the same over decades, what has genuinely evolved since 2011, and...
S13 · E6 · 4 Feb 2026 · 50 min
Building a Coaching Playbook That Actually Changes Clubs, with Charlie Farrell
Send us Fan Mail What does it really take to align dozens of volunteer coaches, hundreds of players, and a whole club around one clear development pathway? In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell is joined by Charlie Farrell, Age Grade Rugby Director at Banbridge RFC, to unpack the thinking behind the club’s new Coaches Playbook. Designed to guide player development from first contact to First XV, the Playbook goes far beyond drills and session plans. Charlie explains ...
S13 · E5 · 28 Jan 2026 · 50 min
Coaching with conviction, with Nash Cohen
Send us Fan Mail In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell is joined by performance coach Nash Cohen to explore what it really means to coach with conviction. From defining winning beyond the scoreboard to building trust under pressure, the conversation digs into principles, skill detail, and creating environments where players think, adapt, and grow. Nash is the Head of Player & Performance Development Jamaica UK and Programme Director Elite Rugby Academy. You...
S13 · E4 · 21 Jan 2026 · 52 min
Why Toughness Is Misunderstood in Rugby, with Jack Heald
Send us Fan Mail What does real toughness look like in rugby? In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell is joined by Jack Heald, Director of Rugby at Barnes RFC and rugby professional at Felsted School, to unpack what toughness truly means in modern coaching environments. Drawing on over 15 years of experience across school, club, and national league rugby, Jack challenges the idea that toughness is about bravado or confrontation. Instead, he reframes it as consistency, ...
S13 · E3 · 14 Jan 2026 · 46 min
What Really Matters When You Inherit a Losing Team, with Ross Bundy
Send us Fan Mail 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 values, defensive standards, contact dominance, discipline,...
S13 · E2 · 7 Jan 2026 · 1 hr 1 min
Why better sessions don’t start with better drills
Send us Fan Mail 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 research, coach education, and applied examples from grassroot...
S13 · E1 · 31 Dec 2025 · 1 hr
KatieFest and the Power of Inclusive Rugby
Send us Fan Mail 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 bringing parents, carers, coaches, and clubs closer together. ...
S12 · E23 · 3 Dec 2025 · 50 min
Building Stronger, Faster and Ultimately Better Rugby Players in the Girls’ Game
Send us Fan Mail 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” athletesWhy movement competency, aerobic fitness and training a...
S12 · E22 · 26 Nov 2025 · 50 min
Confidence, Contact, and Change: The Girls Tackle Rugby Approach
Send us Fan Mail 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 the gap between grassroots participation and the elite pa...
S12 · E21 · 19 Nov 2025 · 44 min
Designing the Future: Inside England Rugby’s Girls’ Pathway
Send us Fan Mail 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 a consistent, adaptable, and player-centred framework acr...
S12 · E20 · 12 Nov 2025 · 54 min
Managing mismatches, parents, and game-day transfer
Send us Fan Mail 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 game matters, and smart ways to bring parents with you....
S20 · E7 · 5 Nov 2025 · 9 min
50:22 Say Less, Coach More
Send us Fan Mail 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 how taking the “temperature” of your group can help you ada...
S20 · E6 · 29 Oct 2025 · 9 min
50:22 Stop Chasing Skill: Build Game Sense That Sticks
Send us Fan Mail 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-term progress in every session. To find out ...
S20 · E5 · 22 Oct 2025 · 9 min
50:22 The Right Kind of Pressure
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 sessions without losing calm, connection, or control. To find out more about this podcast and ma...
S12 · E19 · 8 Sep 2025 · 57 min
High Care, Not High Performance – Ben Herring Returns
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 leadership can be actively coached. This episode blends big lessons from names like Joe Schmidt, Steve...
S12 · E18 · 1 Sep 2025 · 47 min
Receptive, Resilient, Ready: A New Way to Spot Talent
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, and receptiveness in young players. He discusses self-nomination, taster days, individual development p...

About Rugby Coach Weekly

Dan Cottrell and guests discuss all the hot topics in grass roots rugby coaching from managing concussion to dealing with parents.

Rugby Coach Weekly is a English sport podcast from Dan Cottrell. Melo plays each episode straight from the publisher's own feed — no ads added, no account needed — and remembers where you stopped, in this browser only.

Publisher: Dan Cottrell
Language: English
Category: Sport
New episodes: Weekly
Typical length: 50 min
Latest episode: 14 Oct 2026
Feed: RSS — paste into any podcast app
Apple Podcasts: podcasts.apple.com/podcast/id1792018785

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