Mike Ruddock, who is currently the Development Director with the Ospreys, joins me for this week’s episode. Mike also coached Lansdowne to AIL titles and Wales to Grand Slam success, along with the Ireland under 20 team, and was Director of Rugby for Worcester Warriors, to mention just a few roles.

On this episode, Mike discusses dealing with players and the importance of cultivating relationships, similarities between successful amateur and professional teams, getting the shed ready, seeking guidance and advice, and his own mental health and resilience.

As always, a huge thank you to Mike for taking the time to come on the podcast, and please feel free to share it if you enjoyed it.

This season of the podcast is focused on the coaching side of the game, discussing topics like creating a positive environment, focusing on the process, overcoming ego, various aspects of player management, and dealing with the euphoria of the wins and disappointment of the losses.

This week, Adam Griggs, the Irish Women’s Head Coach, joins me to discuss why he coaches, the challenges he faces as a coach, his role within the coaching team, decision making, his team’s development process, and how coaching in the AIL helped to prepare him for working in the national set-up.

As always, a massive thank you to Adam for taking the time to come on the podcast. If you enjoyed this episode, please feel free to subscribe, rate, and review, and check back in with next week’s episode.

Let’s Talk Coaching: Andrew Browne

Andrew Browne, Head Coach of Galwegians RFC, joins me to discuss: the difficulties of inheriting a struggling team, using the blueprints of previous coaches in your own coaching, creating autonomy and leadership in an amateur environment, and the various challenges that arise.

As always, a huge thank you to Andrew for taking the time to come on the podcast.

If you enjoyed it, please feel free to subscribe and share the episode with anyone you think will enjoy it.

Pat Lam, the Director of Rugby for the Bristol Bears and the coach who led Connacht to their famous PRO12 title win, takes the time to discuss vision, leadership, culture, and love.

He gives an insight into his style of coaching, and this episode truly highlights why players love playing for him.

Ireland u20 coach, Leinster A coach, and Leinster Academy Manager Noel McNamara joins me on this week’s episode to discuss his experience and to give an insight into the world of coaching.

This week we discuss why we coach, which strengths young players who make it in the professional game possess, how to erase the fear of failure in young players, motivating fringe players, leadership, and not being afraid of announcing your aims and ambitions to the greater public.

A huge thanks to Noel for taking the time to come on and if you enjoyed the podcast, please feel free to share, follow, rate, and review.

Connacht Head Coach Andy Friend joins me on the first episode of “Let’s Talk Coaching”, a podcast series focused entirely on the coaching side of the game.

On this episode, Andy and I discuss how to create an environment, what he looks for when recruiting a player, the importance of “the why”, player management, giving players both autonomy on the pitch and bad news off it, overcoming tough periods or celebrating good times, and his own mental health.

A huge thanks to Andy for taking the time to come on the podcast for the second time and for sharing his wealth of experience.

Oli Jager discusses how he left Ireland at a young age in order to start a new life playing rugby in New Zealand.

He chats about life at the Crusaders, along with the culture and coaching at the club, and gives some advice to young props.

Squidge Rugby discusses the difficulties facing content creators, life on social media, Rassie's private parts, and Richie Mo'unga: the modern fly half.

A fun conversation that is a bit different from the other episodes. 

Tom Turner is the Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach at Gloucester Rugby and worked with Leinster Rugby for a ten-year period, working with some of the best players in the world. 

In this episode, Tom gives us a rare insight into his role as an S&C coach, how he deals with players, the relentlessness of the Premiership, and some of the challenges he encounters in his role.

Leinster and Ireland player Lindsay Peat joins me on this weeks podcast to discuss her injury rehab during the Covid lockdown, her love of sport and time with Ireland so far, the development of women's rugby, and what can be done to help improve that development further.

Peat came late to rugby, after playing international soccer and basketball and winning an All-Ireland medal with Dublin, and her first international cap was only her 8th game of rugby.