October 06, 2025

288: How Scotland Built a Fitter, Faster, Stronger Rugby Team

33 minutes

This week on the Science for Sport Podcast, host Richard Graves is joined by Stuart Yule, Head of Physical Performance with the Scotland national rugby team.

Stuart’s career has spanned elite roles in football, hockey, and judo, before moving into rugby where he’s been a driving force behind Glasgow Warriors’ success and Scotland’s rise on the international stage. Drawing on his unique background as a Commonwealth Games athlete, physiotherapist, and S&C coach, Stuart shares powerful insights into developing players who can thrive at the very highest level.

This episode gives a rare behind-the-scenes look at how Scottish Rugby has evolved over the past decade and what it takes to prepare athletes to perform on the international stage.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

How Stuart’s unique journey, from weightlifting in his dad’s garage to competing for Scotland – shaped his approach to performance.

The key differences between preparing players at club vs. international level.

Why alignment across national pathways has been critical to Scotland’s success.

How Scottish Rugby has raised physical standards and created a culture of continual improvement.

Lessons from other sports (including judo, athletics, and AFL) that are now embedded in rugby performance.

The importance of technical mastery, co-created training programmes, and athlete ownership in achieving world-class results.

How Scotland are preparing physically to compete with the best rugby nations in the world.

About Stuart Yule

Stuart Yule is Head of Physical Performance with the Scotland national rugby team. A two-time Commonwealth Games competitor in weightlifting, Stuart’s career spans physiotherapy, strength & conditioning, and high-performance coaching. He has worked across football, hockey, and judo before joining Glasgow Warriors, where he played a pivotal role in their domestic and European success. Since 2017, Stuart has been a cornerstone of the Scotland national setup under Head Coach Gregor Townsend, helping raise performance standards and prepare players for the demands of test rugby.

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