Wind Yer Neck In

In episode 18 of 'Wind Yer Neck In' we welcome Agustin Pichot. Gus had a long and decorated rugby career, playing for teams all over Europe and being a catalyst for the Argentinian national team's rapid progress up the world rankings. Gus talks us through where the journey started with his local club and why that connection is so important to him. Gus navigates his way through his career and explores how he was a 'driver of change’, always asking for more from his teammates in an effort to be better. When Gus retired he moved quickly into the administrative side of rugby and helped progress rugby for Argentina with moves into the 'Rugby Championship' and 'Super Rugby.’ In this episode, Gus reflects on why that was an important step forward and he talks openly about his attempt to become chairman of World Rugby, as well as the changes he would like to see implemented for the good of rugby worldwide. Finally, he reflects on why his election campaign didn't work out and where he see's the game heading in the future. As always, we hope you enjoy this chat with one of sport's biggest characters. Let us know what you think on Twitter (@WindYerNeck_In) and Instagram (windyerneck.in)!

In episode 17 of 'Wind Yer Neck In' we welcome David Walsh, the chief sports writer for the British newspaper The Sunday Times and author of multiple books. David has enjoyed over forty years as a sports journalist and has rubbed shoulders with some of the best sportsmen and women out there. David talks us through the most impressive athletes that he’s encountered, including one of the greatest golfers to ever play the game, Tiger Woods. David is world renowned for writing books on the Tour De France and more specifically he was the journalist who first asked questions around Lance Armstrong’s alleged use of performance enhancing drugs. David and I delve into what that was like for him and how he asked the questions that no one else wanted to when it involved the seven time Tour De France winner. David reflects on the pressures that came with that and the ways in which he managed them. Finally David and I consider how journalism is changing and the importance of 'the printed word'. As always, we hope you enjoy this chat with one of sport's biggest characters. Let us know what you think on Twitter (@WindYerNeck_In) and Instagram (windyerneck.in)!

In episode 16 of 'Wind Yer Neck In' we welcome two time rugby World Cup winning coach Steve Hansen to the pod. Steve and I start by reminiscing about his transition from player to coach and his rise through the coaching ranks. Steve reflects on an experience with the Welsh Rugby team which he believes 'was the making of him as a coach,' but then explains the move back home to New Zealand and the jobs that followed. A large part of this episode is spent asking Steve to reflect on how he took an already World Cup winning New Zealand team in 2011 and made them even better for the 2015 World Cup, where they did what no one had ever done before and retained the Webb Ellis trophy. What challenges did they face? How did Steve frame the vision to allow the players to constantly get better, even when they were already the best team in the world? Finally, what does it mean to be an All Black, and what responsibilities come with pulling on that jersey? As always, we hope you enjoy this chat with one of the sport's biggest characters. Let us know what you think on Twitter (@WindYerNeck_In) and Instagram (windyerneck.in)!

In episode 15 of 'Wind Yer Neck In' it is a privilege to welcome former Irish Rugby head coach Joe Schmidt to the show. Joe and I chat about his early life as a school teacher and his transition into professional coaching. Joe describes the people who helped form his coaching style and his early coaching philosophy and then move to discuss the 'growth' mindset that allows him to review and evolve his thoughts and style. We touch on how important self-awareness is in the review process. Joe opens up about his transition from assistant coach to head coach and the challenges that come with 'becoming the man' and furthermore the challenges of moving from club rugby with Leinster to a international team with Ireland. Finally, Joe considers the 'Positive choices' he and his family has made along the way in order to pursue the challenges they have faced. As always, we hope you enjoy this chat with one of the sport's biggest characters. Let us know what you think on Twitter (@WindYerNeck_In) and Instagram (windyerneck.in)!

In episode 14 of 'Wind Yer Neck In' we welcome current head of performance at Saracens Rugby Club to the show. Phil openly and honestly talks us through his career and how he first got involved in rugby. We examine the path Phil has taken, from working in a gym in his early years to becoming one of the most respected performance coaches in Europe. We review the huge strides that have been made in strength and conditioning in the years Phil has been involved, but also acknowledge those aspects that will never change. We evaluate the club to country dynamic and Phil gives us some insights into a career highlight of being asked to go on the British and Irish Lions Tour of New Zealand in 2015. Phil talks about the txt message which invited him on tour and how best to prepare players for the pinnacle of their playing careers. Finally, Phil and I debate who of the players he has ever worked with have been  the fittest, the fastest and the strongest? As always, we hope you enjoy this chat with one of the sport's biggest characters. Let us know what you think on Twitter (@WindYerNeck_In) and Instagram (windyerneck.in)!

In Episode 13 of "Wind Yer Neck In' we welcome Bristol Bears Director of Rugby Pat Lam to the show. Pat had a distinguished career as a player and talks us through aspects of playing in England and also choosing to play for Samoa, the country of his ancestry, over New Zealand, the country of his birth. As a top coach, Pat then moves on to describe how he now sets a vision for his organisation to work towards. Pat stresses the importance of everyone heading in the same direction and creating connection and community within the environment. Pat and I reflect on the success he had at Connacht but also he discusses the learnings that he took from losing his job at the Blues in New Zealand. A discussion that could be relatable to many fields outside of professional sport. We hope you enjoy it! As always, we hope you enjoy this chat with one of the sport's biggest characters. Let us know what you think on Twitter (@WindYerNeck_In) and Instagram (windyerneck.in)!

In Ep 12 of 'Wind Yer Neck In', we welcome Worcester Women's captain Lyndsay O'Donnell to the show. We hear firsthand from Lyndsay about the transitions and progress made in the women's game over the last couple of years, as well as her move from Scotland down to the Midlands where she has made a significant impact both on and off the field. Lyndsay explains some of the differences between when she first arrived at an amateur Worcester Women's club and how the environment has developed. Lyndsay then opens up about how it has been working in the NHS during the Covid-19 pandemic. Lyndsay shares how her role as a physiotherapist in helping with the day to day life of people amidst the obvious and frightening risks of infection. An amazing story. As always, we hope you enjoy this chat with one of the sport's biggest characters. Let us know what you think on Twitter (@WindYerNeck_In) and Instagram (windyerneck.in)!

In Ep 11 of 'Wind Yer Neck In’, we welcome former Scottish and Glasgow Warriors player Graeme Morrison to the show. In light of it being 'Mental Health Week’, Graeme talks frankly about his early career and experiences within the game, as well as the ways in which his mental health suffered at times throughout his career. We delve into how these thoughts can manifest and grow into more serious issues. Graeme describes his experiences after retiring from rugby, discussing the ways in which his own honesty has helped other people by normalising conversations around mental health. We touch on the darkest moments in his life and talk through the ways in which he battled his way through periods of depression. All of this is an effort to help people see that it is ok not to be ok and it is important to talk. As always, we hope you enjoy this chat with one of the sport's biggest characters. Let us know what you think on Twitter (@WindYerNeck_In) and Instagram (windyerneck.in)!

In Episode 10 of 'Wind Yer Neck In’, we welcome Munster Rugby, Harlequins Rugby, Irish Rugby and British and Irish Lions legend, Keith Wood. Keith and I catch up and get to chat about his early life in Limerick, along with the pressures Keith felt with his father having been an Irish and Lions player. In addition we discuss the pressures his three son's will feel in turn. Keith tells us how the move to London with Harlequins came about and also how his growing influence with the Irish Rugby team was affected by injuries through his career. Keith tells us what the Lions tours were like and also explains why the value and importance of the Lions must be preserved. Finally, Keith sheds some light on the transition away from rugby and the ways in which he prepared himself for that moment throughout the course of his rugby career. As always, we hope you enjoy this chat with one of the sport's biggest characters. Let us know what you think on Twitter (@WindYerNeck_In) and Instagram (windyerneck.in)!

In Episode 9 of 'Wind Yer Neck In' we have world renowned Rugby Union coach Stuart Lancaster on to talk about the 'Art' of coaching. Stuart discusses his early life as a teacher and what skills that gave him when he moved into coaching professionally. We also chat about, Culture, Accountability and Mindfulness and how they can be created to help teams and players be successful. What makes a good coach, who he has learnt from and why always reviewing and reflecting on your sessions and how you delivered them is critical to improving as a coach? Actual rugby concepts around how to think about structuring a week and why, the 'How' of coaching is as important as the 'What.'
  A hugely insightful chat with one of the best in the game. As always we hope you enjoy this chat with one of the sports biggest characters and as always let us know what you think on twitter. (@WindYerNeck_In) and Instagram (windyerneck.in)