In this episode, I break down one of the biggest problems I see in rugby strength training players who lift hard in the gym but don’t actually get stronger where it matters: on the field.

After 15+ years coaching rugby athletes, I’ve seen it over and over again, guys following bodybuilding or powerlifting programs that don’t translate to real rugby performance. So today, I explain two proven approaches I use with my athletes.

In this episode: 
00:00 Intro
01:49 Common Mistakes in Rugby Strength Training
05:42 The Berserker Approach: Max Effort Method
07:41 The Tactician Approach: Percentage-Based Progression
09:29 Why These Methods Work
10:44 Wrap up

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The 10 biggest strength and conditioning mistakes I see rugby players make from overtraining and poor recovery to chasing the wrong goals. I’ll break down each one and show you how to fix them so you can perform better on the field. 

In this episode: 
00:00 Intro
01:30 Too Low-Level to Care
03:10 Too Much Gym Time
05:20 Expecting Perfect Recovery
07:50 Chasing Leanness
10:30 Overthinking Conditioning
11:50 Overthinking Exercises
14:15 Perfect Weeks Myth
15:25 Perfect Sessions Myth
17:10 Distracted Goals
19:40 Procrastinating
21:20 Wrap up 

As we put the finishing touches on the Rugby Recovery Code, get early access by requesting it here

Playbook

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In this episode, I break down why most recovery methods don’t actually work. I explain what true recovery really is, how it ties into your training, and why you don’t need fancy stuff to make progress.

In this video
00:00 Intro
01:44 The Modern Recovery Industry
02:55 Understanding True Recovery
04:27 The Three Main Reasons for Recovery
04:42 Training Hard Enough to Make Progress
06:57 Making Adaptations Through Recovery
09:02 Handling the Demands of Rugby
11:36 Integrating Recovery into Training
12:28 Wrap up

As we put the finishing touches on the Rugby Recovery Code, get early access by requesting it here

Playbook

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In this video, I share my top 7 tips to help you minimize injury risk in rugby. From building strength and fitness to improving technique, managing training load, and recovering properly, these are the exact strategies I use to keep players strong, fit, and ready all season.


In this episode: 
00:00 Intro
01:52 Tip 1: Accept the Risk of Rugby
04:03 Tip 2: Get Strong
05:57 Tip 3: Get Fit
07:08 Tip 4: Improve Your Technique
08:21 Tip 5: Expose Yourself to Game Stresses
10:04 Tip 6: Manage Your Load
12:00 Tip 7: Manage Your Recovery
13:20 Wrap up

Playbook

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In this episode, I break down why rugby players shouldn’t train like bodybuilders if they want to perform at their best on the pitch. I share the key differences between bodybuilding and rugby training, why strength and conditioning matter more than just looking big, and how to actually train like an athlete.

00:00 Intro

01:27 More Than Just Muscle Growth

02:40 Conditioning is Key

03:53 Functional Muscle Performance

06:25 Managing Fatigue and Training Load

08:13 The Fun and Reward of Training Like an Athlete

10:03 Embrace the Rugby Athlete Mindset

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In this video, I break down a big mistake I see all the time in rugby training like an athlete instead of as an athlete. I share my personal experience, including a story about a top-level player getting crushed by CrossFit, and explain why generic athlete training doesn’t cut it for rugby. You’ll learn how to align your strength and conditioning with the actual demands of the game, plus get free tools to help you train smarter with Rugby Muscle.

In this video:
00:00 Intro
01:00 Understanding the Difference: Training Like an Athlete vs. Training as an Athlete
02:03 A Personal Story: The CrossFit Experience
03:57 The Key Differences in Training Approaches
07:49 Building the Right Base for Rugby
08:27 Aligning S&C with Rugby Training
10:28 Identifying Your Needs as a Rugby Player
12:22 Wrap up

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In this episode, I open up about my biggest nutrition mistake as a rugby player. I share how I fixed it and what you can do instead for long-term success on and off the field.

In this video: 

00:00 Intro

00:40 The Biggest Nutrition Mistake

01:33 Early Struggles with Diet and Training

02:07 The Paleo Diet and Its Pitfalls

04:01 The Cycle of Restriction and Binge Eating

06:37 Breaking the Cycle and Finding Balance

08:56 Flexible Dieting and Long-Term Solutions

10:33 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

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In this episode, I dive into the parts of rugby culture we don’t always talk about, from social pressure to training habits. I break down what’s really helping your progress and what might be slowing it down, even if it feels normal. Let’s get real about what matters for long-term success in the sport.

00:00 Intro

01:18 The Social Side of Rugby

05:21 Lazy Touch

06:33 Taking Training Seriously

07:38 Avoiding the Blame Game

10:37 The Power of Banter

11:31 Openness to Learning

13:01 Final Thoughts

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Zone 2 training changed the way I coach rugby players. In this video, I explain what Zone 2 is, why it works, and how to actually do it right. I cover heart rate, duration, timing etc. If you want better recovery, more endurance, and real match fitness, this is for you.

In this episode: 

00:00 Intro

01:27 Heart Rate Spikes and Zone Two

03:49 Overcoming the Hate for Running

05:55 Using Heart Rate Monitors

07:07 Duration and Frequency of Zone Two Sessions

09:21 Zone Two During the Rugby Season

10:51 Zone Two Feels Too Easy

13:16 Time Management and Zone Two

15:27 The Everlasting Benefits of Zone Two

17:36 Final Thoughts

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In this episode, I break down what rugby-specific training actually looks like. Most players think it’s all about doing drills that “look like rugby,” but that’s not it. I go through the 5 key areas—strength, power, speed, aerobic capacity, and movement—and show you how to apply them properly to your training. I also explain how general work still plays a role and why timing and structure are everything.

In this episode:

00:00 Intro

01:24 What Specificity Really Means

02:29 Common Mistakes

04:13 The 5 Pillars of Rugby S&C

06:30 Why General Work Still Matters

07:53 Timing & Training Context

09:38 Making It Work for You

11:01 Final Thoughts

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