This week we’re joined by Sam Vesty, head coach of the reigning Premiership Rugby champions, Northampton Saints, for a candid look at creative leadership in a data-driven era. Sam explains why numbers matter, but only in service of what players see and feel on the pitch. In “open” sports like rugby, he argues, intuition, context and decision-making under pressure beat dashboards alone.

We dig into nurturing talent across Saints’ pathway; names like George Furbank, Henry Pollock and Fin Smith, and how to build an environment where players are encouraged to try, err and learn. Skill mistakes are inevitable; effort mistakes are not. The job is to create psychological safety, clarity of roles and constant feedback, while keeping the game expressive, ambitious and fun.

Sam opens up his training-week blueprint: Monday’s low-load skills and meetings; heavier work midweek; sharp, short sessions to protect freshness; plus hand-eye “play” (foot-tennis, wall passing, tennis-ball catches) that hones hand-eye without taxing legs. We cover recovery and availability as competitive advantages, sleep habits, smarter scheduling, and the club’s approach to nutrition - breakfasts, snacks, lunches and individual plans.

Finally, we talk where the sport is heading, perhaps towards forwards who can move and handle, more akin to backs, more ambition with ball-in-hand, and a simple team motto that underpins it all: get better and better and better.

The ainslie + ainslie Performance People podcast talks to high-performers in the world of sport and beyond, to bring defining moments, hard-earned insights and expert advice to everyday performance. New episodes every Tuesday.

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