Podcasts about Rugby union

This week on the Science for Sport podcast, Richard Graves welcomes Matt Parr back to the show for a deeper look at the work that really drives performance in elite sport. Matt is the Head of Athletic Performance at Leicester Tigers, a former professional rugby player, and the founder of High Performance Puzzle. Having worked across both rugby union and rugby league, including Leicester Tigers and Catalan Dragons, Matt brings a rare combination of playing experience, coaching insight, leadership responsibility, and high-performance strategy. In this episode, Richard and Matt explore the “invisible work” that sits behind successful performance environments. Not the gym programme. Not the GPS report. Not the testing data. But the conversations, decisions, relationships, standards, and judgement calls that determine whether the physical work actually lands. They discuss why data needs context, how performance teams can align with coaches under pressure, what good decision-making looks like when information is incomplete, and why trust remains one of the most important currencies in elite sport. For sports science, S&C, medical, coaching, and performance staff working in elite environments, this episode is a valuable reminder that high performance is not built by data alone. It is built through people, relationships, standards, and the ability to make good decisions when the pressure is on. In this episode you will learn Why the work that drives performance often sits outside the formal programme, session plan, or data report How conversations between coaches, medical staff, S&C, sports science, and players provide vital context What good alignment looks like in a high-performance environment How to manage differing opinions between technical and performance departments Why frameworks are essential when emotions and pressure start to influence decision-making How to make better decisions when you do not have the complete picture Why trust between the head coach, medical team, and performance staff is critical How to use data without becoming over-reliant on it Why standards often slip in small ways before they show up in performance outcomes How relationships can make or break the effectiveness of even the best performance systems Why gut feel still matters, provided it is shaped by experience and reflection How elite practitioners can reflect more effectively on their own decisions and behaviours Why discipline is a habit, not just a personal trait What Matt has learned from working across rugby union and rugby league Why the best players want honest feedback when standards start to slip About Matt Parr Matt Parr is Head of Athletic Performance at Leicester Tigers and founder of High Performance Puzzle. Before moving into strength and conditioning, Matt spent around 14 to 15 years as a professional rugby player, representing clubs including Sale Sharks, Saracens, London Irish, and Leicester Tigers. His transition into performance coaching began at Leicester Tigers, where he initially combined a player-coach role with S&C responsibilities before moving fully into the performance department. Matt has since built extensive experience across both rugby union and rugby league. After progressing through the performance setup at Leicester Tigers, he joined Catalan Dragons as Head of Performance, before returning to Leicester as Head of Athletic Performance. Alongside his role in professional rugby, Matt has launched High Performance Puzzle, a consultancy focused on high-performance strategy, systems, leadership, and integration. FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

Season 3 of The Captain's Table focuses on the movers and shakers of the sports industry. This week, The Captain is joined by the real Sheriff of British Sport, Jon Dutton — not of Yellowstone fame, but the current CEO of British Cycling and soon-to-be CEO of Team GB, the British Olympic Association. We learn about Jon's passion for Rugby League, Rugby Union, and Cycling, as well as his unique leadership style that has taken him to the top tier of British sport. The show is brought to you by Fortnum & Mason and The Sponsorship Doctor.

Lester Kiewit speaks to Calvin Smith, co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer at Mzansi Rugby League, a Rugby Union league which was touted to launch in 2027 and provide an alternative avenue for jobless players, coaches, referees and medics. The plan was dealt a blow following threats from the South African Rugby Union that players who opted to join the new league would risk being expelled, resulting in the trials being cancelled by Mzansi Rugby League. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is a podcast of the CapeTalk breakfast show. This programme is your authentic Cape Town wake-up call. Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit is informative, enlightening and accessible. The team’s ability to spot & share relevant and unusual stories make the programme inclusive and thought-provoking. Don’t miss the popular World View feature at 7:45am daily. Listen out for #LesterInYourLounge which is an outside broadcast – from the home of a listener in a different part of Cape Town - on the first Wednesday of every month. This show introduces you to interesting Capetonians as well as their favourite communities, habits, local personalities and neighbourhood news. Thank you for listening to a podcast from Good Morning Cape Town with Lester Kiewit. Listen live on Primedia+ weekdays between 06:00 and 09:00 (SA Time) to Good Morning CapeTalk with Lester Kiewit broadcast on CapeTalk https://buff.ly/NnFM3Nk For more from the show go to https://buff.ly/xGkqLbT or find all the catch-up podcasts here https://buff.ly/f9Eeb7i Subscribe to the CapeTalk Daily and Weekly Newsletters https://buff.ly/sbvVZD5 Follow us on social media CapeTalk on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@capetalk CapeTalk on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ CapeTalk on X: https://x.com/CapeTalk CapeTalk on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CapeTalkSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kirsty Lang on Michael Pennington, the Shakespearean actor who preferred a life on stage to the glamour of Hollywood. For Dame Judi Dench, he was her 'Mr Plum', she recalls his life.Cynthia Shange defied apartheid to become the first Black woman to represent South Africa at Miss World. Scott Hastings the rugby legend, who was once Scotland's most capped player. He went on to become a well-known commentator and campaigner for mental health charities, following the death of his wife after her long battle with depression. And Beverley Martyn, the singer songwriter, a star of the British folk scene, who was signed by Beatles producer George Martin aged 16, but her career was not a smooth ride. Please note this programme references suicide. Support and information is available at bbc.co.uk/actionline.Interviewee: Dame Judi Dench Interviewee: Nonhle Thema Interviewee: John Beattie Interviewee: Joe BoydProducer: Catherine Powell Assistant Producer: Ribika Moktan Researcher: Jesse Edwards Editor: Andrea KennedyArchive: Miss World 1972. BBC TV, 01 Dec 1972; Bob Harris Sunday : Beverley Martyn plays live, BBC Radio 2, 27th April 2014; Five Nations, Rugby Union, Scotland v England, 17th March 1990; Scrum V, Live Pro12: 2016/2017, Edinburgh v Blues, 24th Feb 2017; BBC News Breakfast, 21st Dec 2020; Richard II, writer William Shakespeare, dir Gregory Doran, Royal Shakespeare Company, 2013; Gift of Gorgon, writer Peter Shaffer, dir Peter Hall, RSC, 1993; Henry V, dir Michael Bogdanov, The English Shakespeare Company in The War of the Roses, Produced by John Paul Chapple and Andy Ward, A Portman Classics production in association with Contracts International and Windmill Lane Productions, 1990

With Mike's work commitments proving difficult, super-sub David Cowe comes off the bench to review a rare and much-needed away win in Manchester. We also panic over the latest Fly-Half injury, as well as celebrate England call ups and a century for Joe Heyes. 

The Waikato Rugby Union shared an open letter on their Facebook page directed at parents, coaches, spectators and supporters of kids sport that incidents of verbal abuse, intimidation, aggression and violence on the sidelines are simply not good enough. It says that recent incidents have prompted the call to action as the junior sport season has just gotten underway. Waikato Rugby Union CEO Amy Marfell joined D'Arcy to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Limerickman Conor McNamara was recently named British sports commentator of the year, finishing ahead of broadcasting legends BBC Radio 5 Live's John Murray and Sky Sports' Peter Drury.Conor is one of the leading voices in Football broadcasting, covering the biggest games for over two decades and started with the BBC back in 2002. He has been nominated as Football Supporters' Federation commentator of the year every year from 2014 to 2023, and now he has finally taken home the well-deserved prize.But he is known for so much more than football, as he has commentated for Rugby Union games for the BBC and for the Ryder Cup.He spoke about his win on Live 95's Limerick Today Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Grassroots rugby clubs are losing players to league, driven not just by the game itself but by stronger development pathways and active scouting at youth level. Linda Brown has been a volunteer for Te Puna Rugby Club in Tauranga for over 20 years, and spoke to John Campbell.

Rugby Union legend George Gregan has had his say on Super Rugby's newest big signing, Zac Lomax.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rugby Union legend George Gregan has had his say on Super Rugby's newest big signing, Zac Lomax.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corey Parker from the Agenda Setters talks media portrayal, rise of Basketball and fall of rugby union Listen to the Front Office and Vossys Verdict every Monday to Thursday on SEN  9am on SEN 1170 AM Sydney  10am on SEN 693 AM Brisbane  Listen Online: ⁠https://www.sen.com.au/listen⁠  Get a look inside the studio on YouTube:  Subscribe to SEN League on YouTube: ⁠https://www.youtube.com/@senleague⁠  Follow us on Social Media!  TikTok: ⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@senleague⁠  Instagram: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/senleague⁠  X: ⁠https://x.com/SENLeague⁠  *timecodes approximate*  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest will face off in an All-English Europa League semi-final having overcome Bologna and Porto in the Quarter-finals.Crystal Palace will take on Shakhtar Donetsk in the Conference League Semi-finals, despite losing the second leg to Fiorentina. Liverpool confirm Hugo Ekitike will miss the rest of the season and World Cup with a ruptured achilles, but Katarina Johnson-Thompson tells us he can come back stronger. Scotland's Rugby Union captain Finn Russell is set to sign with Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Talent Agency. Manchester City have confirmed Bernado Silva will leave Manchester City at the end of the season, having won 19 trophies in his time at the club.Simon Jordan disagrees with the level of criticism facing Mikel Arteta and Arsenal, and has not ruled them out of the title race. And Frank Lampard sits down with talkSPORT ahead of Coventry's clash with Blackburn LIVE on talkSPORT 2 tonight. A point will see them return to the Premier League for the first time since 2001. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Growing up, Desi Miller was well acquainted with the gym floor and the dance studio, having spent her younger years as a representative gymnast who even performed at Disneyland threes time. But when COVID hit in 2021, Desifresh out of high school, decided to take up Rugby Union and hasn’t looked back since. Within three years of picking up a footy for the first time, Desi has gone on to play for the NSW Waratahs and debut for Australia as Wallaroo Number 204. And now she’s representing Team Rugby Union on RIVALS, to help settle the debate over which Australian sporting code reigns supreme. We hope you enjoy this episode, and don’t forget you can catch Desi and Team Rugby Union on the final few episodes of Rivals. Watch Rivals now on Kayo Sports ***Get the wrap delivered to your inbox as a weekly newsletter! Subscribe here for the weekly women's sports newsletter + to hear when new merch drops. https://bit.ly/tfapsubscribe Join the women's sports fan club. Shop our new TFAP merch: https://www.thefemaleathleteproject.com/shopSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By the early twentieth century, rugby was not simply popular in Wales. It was emotional infrastructure. It was civic ritual. And in 1905 a game between Wales and New Zealand would set Rugby Union at the heart of Welsh national pride. Photo :Credited to Bowden Brothers photography - [1] Digitised from Sir George Grey Special Collections, Auckland Libraries, AWNS-19060201-15-3 Published in the Auckland Weekly News, 01 February 1906, pg. 15. Follow us on social media: Instagram, Bluesky: @Welshhistorypod Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/welshhistorypodcast Please consider becoming a supporter at: http://patreon.com/WelshHistory Music: Celtic Impulse - Celtic by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution license (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100297Artist: http://incompetech.com/ © 2026 Evergreen Podcasts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Is Rugby Posh? This week I was going by Hattie from The Rugby History Project to answer that very question. We dive into the origins of the sport, its roots in the English private school system, and the role colonialism played in the game's growth across the globe. We then ask the question if women's rugby is any different, before taking a look ahead to the Women's Six Nations. Will it be the Red Roses show again? Furthermore, what has the PWR done that has made both of us so mad? #rugby #history #england #class #socialhistory #podcast #sixnations #money #british Hattie's excellent article: https://therugbyhistoryproject.com/2025/11/03/why-is-rugby-union-posh/ follow me on twitter: https://x.com/HuwGriffinRugby Chapters 0:00 A Rugby Historian 2:55 Rugby Banned Books? 5:40 Its Own Worst Enemy 9:30 William Webb Ellis Never Happened 14:55 Why Is Rugby Posh? 26:25 The North South Divide Explained 32:00 Colonialism And Rugby 36:10 Is Women's Rugby Different? 43:00 Red Roses Thoughts 45:10 PWR Controversy 53:30 Wales Six Nations Preview Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Improve your rugby performance with this crucial training shift! Many rugby players make the same mistakes in the gym, training harder but not seeing the benefits on the pitch. This video reveals the one fundamental change you need to make to ensure your gym time isn't wasted and actually enhances your game.After 20 years of performance training and over a decade coaching amateur rugby players online, I'm making the case for full-body training. Discover why this approach is superior for rugby athletes, especially compared to traditional body part splits. I'll delve into how it provides more frequent quality exposures to key movement patterns, offers greater flexibility for in-season niggles, and allows for varied training stimuli throughout the week. Crucially, full-body training frees up your week to prioritise conditioning, speed, and actual rugby training, which are often overlooked in favour of gym-focused off-season programmes. Learn why fitness is often the real bottleneck to your best performance and how to avoid sacrificing it for temporary gym gains.Get the Rugby Muscle Training Week Playbook https://rugby-muscle.com/playbookJoin Team Rugby Musclehttps://rugby-muscle.com/team Get personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&Chttps://rugby-muscle.com/aaa Get early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete Blueprinthttps://rugby-muscle.com/blueprintIf you found this video helpful, please give it a thumbs up to support the channel! Subscribe for more rugby training insights and hit the notification bell so you don't miss out. Let me know in the comments if you've ever struggled with your training programme falling apart due to missed sessions or if you've prioritised gym work over fitness, I'd love to hear your experiences!#RugbyTraining #FullBodyWorkout #RugbyFitnessSupport the show

JOIN US AT THE GARDENS: https://www.intix.com.au/event/the-ladbrokes-715/informationThis week on Daily Blue, Weekly: We are joined by Dane Sharratt, Rugby Union die hard. The boys talk rugby, Druski controversy, Karaoke, Shirt police & Slept on inventions.Join the paych: https://patreon.com/dailyblueweekly?u...-If you need help with organising a loan get in contact with our friends at PK Mortgages:⁠⁠⁠⁠https://pkmortgages.com.au/⁠⁠⁠⁠Or book a phone appointment here: https://form.jotform.com/25055754726987-USE CODE: 'DailyBlue' For 10% off at Papa Macros! ⁠⁠⁠https://www.papamacros.com.au-Check out Confession Boutique for all your bedroom needs: https://confessionsboutique.com.au/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week on The Knock On, KCLR Sport's weekly rugby podcast, Stephen Byrne is joined by Paddy Browne of Tullow RFC to break down all the latest action from across the local rugby scene.On This Week's Episode:Derby Fever: It's the big one! We preview the massive Towns Cup Quarter-Final as Tullow hosts Carlow. With Tullow coming off a season-best performance against De La Salle Palmerston and Carlow fresh and hungry, will match fitness or freshness win the day?History in the Making: We celebrate a landmark moment as the Tullow Women secure their first AIL win in two years. We look ahead to their high-stakes relegation battle against Ennis.Underage Excellence: A massive roundup of the youth circuit—from the U13s reaching a Leinster semi-final to the U16s' thrilling victory over Carlow.The Province & The Philosophy: The lads talk Leinster, the loss of RG Snyman, and the big debate: Is Jacques Nienaber's defensive philosophy holding back Leinster's natural attacking flair?Junior Rugby Roundup: Updates on the Seconds and Thirds as cup action heats up across the board.Don't miss the crack on the sideline! Whether you're heading to the Black Gates or tuning in on the radio, we've got everything you need to know before kick-off, the game is also live on KCLR Radio.We also bring you all the latest youth rugby news and updates from around the region.All that and more on The Knock On.

Mike "Big Roy" Whitney, "Sugar" Ray Nosti, & Andrew "Dawsey" Dawson present "This Week In Sport"....   Each week the boys share their thoughts on anything sport from around the globe with their own brand of irreverent humour!   This week the boys chat about :   - Chuck Norris - Kids ice hockey fights - Penrith Panthers' Brian To'o's food consumption - Rabbitoh's Alex Johnson's try scoring record - Rugby Union & Rugby League - Mike Whitney's 1992/93 Testimonial Wines - Brad Haddin as the new NSW cricket coach - A New Zealand cricketer's 5 wickets in 5 deliveries - Athletics - Anxiety, depression & drug use among elite athletes - Ray's T-Shirts! - Sugar Ray Nosti's Trivia & much, much more!    

This week on The Knock On, KCLR Sport's weekly rugby podcast, Stephen Byrne is joined by Tom Crotty of Carlow Rugby Club, James Blanchfield from Kilkenny RFC, and Paddy Browne of Tullow RFC to break down all the latest action from across the local rugby scene.This week on the pod, we are diving into one of the busiest windows in Leinster rugby. We break down Tullow 1st XV's high-stakes trip to Newbridge this Saturday—a must-win play-off against DLSP to keep their Division 1A status alive.We also look ahead to the "Big One" at the Black Gates on March 29th. Tullow's Paddy Browne tells us why he's looking over his shoulder at a surging Co. Carlow side. Can the Oak Park men pull off a heist in Tullow?Also in this episode: Sean O'Brien is back on the pitch for the Tullow J3s against Navan.A massive AIL clash for Tullow vs Cooke, while Kilkenny Women face a top-of-the-table showdown at Foulkstown.SETU Head Coach John Farrell and a host of Carlow locals prepare to host UCC in the Division 1 All-Ireland Final this Wednesday. We review the SETU Ladies' brave performance against UCD under Keeva Owens and Paddy Moss.We also bring you all the latest youth rugby news and updates from around the region.All that and more on The Knock On.

Scrapping rugby fees for kids is boosting grassroots participation. Counties Manukau was first to fund junior fees three years ago, with Nelson and Wellington's Newland clubs following suit. The interest from a million-dollar grant from NZ Rugby's Silver Lake deal covers junior fees for five of Counties Manukau's 16 clubs. Head of Community Matt Megaw told Mike Hosking they're seeing good numbers. He says rugby is on a steady incline in their area, despite there being lots for kids to do these days. LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR JUST $5 PER MONTH: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheByeRoundPodcast James Graham & Charlie White are back in for another week of Mid-Week Matters! The boys preview every game of round 2, plus, chat Kalyn Ponga's allegiance switch, the noise around the six again rule change, why League must win the code war against Union in Junior Footy and could State of Origin land on Netflix? NordVPN Special Offer: https://nordvpn.com/jamesgraham Enquire About Our Studio: https://thebyeround.com/pages/contact Email: thebyeround@gmail.com Ladbrokes: https://www.ladbrokes.com.au/ Hyundai: https://www.hyundai.com/au/ Follow The Bye Round On:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebyeround/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebyeround?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebyeround 0:00 The Sunrise Star 7:58 Too Many Six Agains In Round 1? 18:26 Origin On Netflix? 23:26 League v Union - How To Win The Code War 34:41 Predictions We’d Like Back 36:14 Ponga Switches To New Zealand NORD + AD 41:19 Broncos v Eels Preview 51:01 Wahs v Raiders 53:27 Roosters v Rabbitohs 58:33 Tigers v Cowboys 1:03:01 Dragons v Storm Preview 1:04:39 Panthers v Sharks 1:07:04 Sea Eagles v Knights 1:08:50 Dolphins v TitansSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JOIN OUR PATREON FOR JUST $5 PER MONTH: https://www.patreon.com/cw/TheByeRoundPodcast James Graham & Luke Keary are in, as Round 1 of the NRL is officially complete. The boys dissect all the important talking points including; Souths statement win, the Broncos humiliated at home, Raiders golden point win and the Roosters halves combination comes under scrutiny! Plus, Jimmy reacts to Zac Lomax's official move to Rugby Union. NordVPN Special Offer: https://nordvpn.com/jamesgraham Enquire About Our Studio: https://thebyeround.com/pages/contact Email: thebyeround@gmail.com Ladbrokes: https://www.ladbrokes.com.au/ Hyundai: https://www.hyundai.com/au/ Follow The Bye Round On:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebyeround/?hl=enTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@thebyeround?lang=enYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@thebyeround 0:00 Zac Lomax Saga Officially Over 17:04 Never Watching A Trial Game Again 18:02 Kez’s New TV Show: Agenda Setter On Channel 7 23:37 Sunday Sin-Bin 25:36 Souths Statement Win 32:27 Dolphins Defensive Issues 36:47 The DCE Criticism 52:28 Tannah Boyd Steps Up For The Wahs 54:22 DCE v Fifita/Latrell 56:05 AJ’s Record Breaking Try 1:00:42 Manly Lose Golden Point Thriller 1:08:53 Raiders Building Star Players 1:14:37 Broncos Humiliated By PenrithSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chiefs coach Jono Gibbes believes the Super Rugby matches between New Zealand sides are as intense as any of the big rivalries he experienced while coaching in France. The Chiefs have beaten the Highlanders by just 3 points in Dunedin and Gibbs says the derby clashes are true contests. Former rugby union player Brendan Laney joined Piney to discuss. LISTEN ABOVESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, Stephen Maxwell discusses the importance of self-care for coaches, the factors contributing to coach burnout, and strategies for emotional regulation. He emphasizes the need for coaches to reconnect with their purpose, manage their time effectively, and create supportive environments for both themselves and their athletes. The conversation also covers the significance of reflective practices, accountability, and navigating tough seasons in coaching.—RYG x NIKE SPORTS CAMPSThe Better Coaching Podcast is powered by RYG Athletics, a proud provider of NIKE Sports Camps.If you're interested in becoming one of our NIKE Sports Camp directors, fill out the form below.- Director interest form:⁠⁠ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScFXxRUOb9-pdYbDkRktNiCTD1PDwm4zisPexHCLH0341YlRg/viewform?usp=dialog- RYG Website:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://rygathletics.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠—FREE PODCAST NOTES, NEWSLETTER, & COACHES COMMUNITY

From growing up in a Rugby Union family to discovering basketball at 15, and the journey that led him to the NBL, Tyrell talks life off the court: With his fiancée Kalani Tyrell opens up on the balancing act of supporting two professional basketball careers and raising a young family. He also reflects on the moment he cracked the Bullets roster, his growth as a player, and the surreal experience of joining the Denver Nuggets for Summer League.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the most enduring two-code careers in Australasian sport belongs to Brad Thorn. An All Black, Crusader, Highlander, Bronco, Queenslander, and Kangaroo, Thorn has nearly done it all over the span of his 40 year career. ‘Champions Do Extra', is Thorn's memoir, and it delves into his legendary rugby career and the lessons he's learnt along the way. He began working on it after he finished up with the Reds. “I thought, if I'm going to write something, surely I've learned something over the last 30 years, y'know, now is the time.” He was a part of three champion Brisbane Broncos sides and a World Cup winning All Blacks side – an achievement he maintains is the greatest of his career. “The Grand Final of Grand Finals,” he told Piney. “Everything was on the line.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A once in a generation player, Brad Thorn has achieved great things on the field. He's arguably the greatest code swapper rugby league and union have ever seen, winning the World Cup with the All Blacks, Crusaders titles, NRL titles, and he represented the Kangaroos and played in State of Origin. Thorn's had an immense amount of success across his 30-year career, and he's detailed the lessons he's learned in his new book, ‘Champions Do Extra'. The book's title stems from a sentiment expressed by Thorn's father when he was younger – encouraging them to take that one extra step when applying themselves to anything. “If you ask me who was my best coach, I'd say my dad,” he told Mike Hosking. “A lot of it was around mindset, and y'know, having a positive mindset and putting in the work, bringing the work ethic and then being able to have the belief, to having earned the belief to be able to, y'know, achieve the things you want to achieve and the potential you have.” While some measure of natural ability is always useful, Thorn believes it's the work you put in that allows you to become great. “There's many times with Richie McCaw, there's different parts of the game that I didn't initially think he was natural at,” he explained to Hosking. “But he just worked hard, y'know, and you saw those parts of his game develop.” “Hard work takes you a long way.” LISTEN ABOVE See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Most teams double down when things stall. More drills. More meetings. More effort.Mike Cron (one of world rugby's most successful coaches) did the opposite.Instead of searching for answers inside his own sport, he started borrowing from others: different games, different pressures, different ways of thinking about performance. This bite size episode is about learning how to see what others miss.If you're responsible for people, results, or momentum - this will change how you think about improvement. Learn more about Mike here: https://www.mikecroncoaching.co.nz/   Use Code "PQPODCAST10" to get 10% off your Lumo Coffee order:https://lumocoffee.com/ Interested in sharing your story? Email Producer Shannon at support@performanceintelligence.com today with your story and contact details. Learn more about Andrew and Performance Intelligence: https://performanceintelligence.com/Find out more about Andrew's Keynotes : https://performanceintelligence.com/keynotes/Follow Andrew May: https://www.instagram.com/andrewmay/Watch the Performance Intelligence Podcast on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@performanceintelligencepodcastIf you enjoy the podcast, we would really appreciate you leaving a short review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Google Play. It takes less than 60 seconds and really helps us build our audience and continue to provide high quality guests.

Snoz ... just telling it how it is! An awesome interview.Sponsored by Cooks Plumbing Supplies. Check them out @ https://www.cooksplumbing.com.au

Mike ... just telling it how it is! An awesome interview.Sponsored by Cooks Plumbing Supplies. Check them out @ https://www.cooksplumbing.com.au

Uxbridge & Ickenham ClubInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/ickenhamanduxbridgerugby/Squidge Rugby YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SquidgeRugbyThe Podcast Nobody Asked ForWebsite - https://thepodcastnobodyaskedfor.co.uk/Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/the-podcast-nobody-asked-for/id1531618753Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/6RKT6u2w5B0Uin0czNpx0rAmazon - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/8b257741-cf79-4e32-9e31-af4bbbec9944/THE-PODCAST-NOBODY-ASKED-FORTwitter - https://twitter.com/nobodyasked4podInstagram - https://twitter.com/nobodyasked4podFandomentals PodcastAll Links: https://linktr.ee/FandomentalsPodcastPodomedy - https://podomedy.com/ Artwork Designed by Alex JenkinsWebsite - www.hexdesigns.orgInstagram - https://www.instagram.com/hexshadowDonate to CALM Here - https://tiltify.com/@podomedy/fundraiser-for-stay-tuned-2025CALM Tools & Resources - https://www.thecalmzone.net/tools-mental-health-support Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, I break down the most effective upper body movements I use to build real rugby strength and on-field performance. This isn't bodybuilding or powerlifting, it's practical training that carries over directly to tackles, contact, and shoulder resilience.00:00 Intro02:18 Pull-ups05:50 Bench press07:58 Explosive push-ups 10:52 Single-arm rows 13:07 Face pulls14:23 Tricep extensions15:43 Hammer curls 16:45 Wrap up Join Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

In this episode, I break down the most effective lower body movements I use to build rugby strength, speed, and resilience. I explain how each exercise transfers directly to on-field performance and how to program them correctly for real results.Join Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

Choc joins us for a cool chat! Best of is presented by Pirtek. 

Join the Real Science of Sport Supporters club, and get access to the sports science community where at least one person (usually many more) knows the answer to every question you can possibly ask! Plus, engage on news, training, diet, and other sports science related topics with fellow listeners! A small monthly pledge makes you a Supporter, and the Science of Sport Community awaits!Show notesToday on the Spotlight, we kick off with a chat about whether your running shoes are causing injuries (4:24). This, after a former elite runner has sued Nike for an injury she claims was the result of running in carbon fiber plated footwear. Ross and Gareth talk about the complexity of running injuries, why proving a single cause is a near-impossible task, but why the claim is not necessarily a total no-hoper, given what we know about injury and these particular shoes. We look back at some precedents, sort of, where shoe companies have settled after claims, but with some very important subtle differences.We then shift to Track and Field for a pair of stories (32:29). World Athletics crowned their Athletes of the Year this week, with Mondo Duplantis and Sydeny McLaughlin-Levrone taking the overall honours. We throw some praise Mondo's way, and not because he's virtually unbeatable and playing with the World Record. We also discuss Grand Slam Track, which is surely in its final days after the depth of its latest financial hole were announced, and Track and Field Athletics, whose supposed demise may have been greatly exaggerated (37:23)We finish with a couple of contact sports stories. Ross co-authored a paper he thinks could transform how Rugby Union handles contact training to minimize head impacts (47:40). And we spotlight listener Petulant Skeptic, whose insights on infections and hand-washing in hospitals shed light on Guardian caps and reducing concussion risk (58:39).Oh, And Finally, Ross has a tale about a mattress that will do things you simply won't believe. Or at least, you shouldn't!Links to some articlesFormer elite runner sues Nike after being injured in AlphaflysIt's not all frivolous - this paper suggests a possible injury riskInjuries are multifactorial and very complex as this Umbrella Review makes clearOne of the papers I published with Dr Nic Tam on barefoot running, showing that even 8 weeks of supervised progression didn't turn us all into smooth barefoot runners, and may thus increase injury risk for manyVibram settled - not for causing injury, but for false claimsReducing full contact training in Rugby barely reduces head impacts in elite men's players - the paper we discussedThe outstanding post by Petulant Skeptic on what infection and handwashing may tell us about Guardian caps Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Todays episode is On Leadership and I am joined for the discussion by 2 great coaches. The first is Mike Dunlap. Mike is a basketball coach who has led teams in US Colleges, the NBA and in Australia. He was also an assistant with the Milwaukee Bucks when then they defeated the Phoenix Suns to win their first NBA Championship in 2021.The second is Rugby Union coach Franco Smith. As a player Franco represented South Africa as well as playing for clubs in South Africa, Italy, France and Wales. As a coach he has led teams to National Championships in Italy and South Africa and is presently the head coach of the Glasgow Warriors.Q: How do you mitigate the loneliness you might feel as a leader?Q: What philosophy guides you as a leaderQ: What did you do today to lead by example? If you would like to send us any feedback or if you know a great coach, who has a unique story to share, then we would love to hear from you, please contact us at paul@thegreatcoachespodcast.com or contact us through our website thegreatcoachespodcast.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

With Mike unavailable, Iain Morton comes off the bench this week to discuss the latest twists and turns in the George Martin saga, look over a well-fought win over Newcastle and preview a tough voyage to La Rochelle. In amongst this, we ponder if a real life tiger did meet Martin Johnson in the 90's!

In this episode, I break down the biggest mistake amateur rugby players make in the gym, copying pro-level training. I share my own journey, explain why pro methods don't work for players balancing work, school, and life, and show the simple framework I use to help athletes get stronger, fitter, faster, and stay injury-free. I also walk you through my first-principles approach so you can build a sustainable system that actually improves your rugby performance. In this episode:00:00 Introduction: The Common Mistake in Rugby Training01:40 Personal Journey: From Amateur to Coach03:04 The Problem of Information Overload04:31 The Reality of Amateur Training07:11 The First Principles Approach09:44 Conclusion: Building a Sustainable Training SystemJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the showSupport the show

Our first cast this episode of the Big Fish comes to you from Broughton Island with fishing mad Wallaby Mark Gerrard.

Foreign ministers meet to discuss an international peacekeeping force in Gaza; The Reserve Bank set to announce its decision on the cash rate; and in Rugby Union, Indigenous and Pasifika teams prepare for the Global Youth Sevens tournament

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 Intro01:49 Common Mistakes in Rugby Strength Training05:42 The Berserker Approach: Max Effort Method07:41 The Tactician Approach: Percentage-Based Progression09:29 Why These Methods Work10:44 Wrap upJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

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 Intro01:30 Too Low-Level to Care03:10 Too Much Gym Time05:20 Expecting Perfect Recovery07:50 Chasing Leanness10:30 Overthinking Conditioning11:50 Overthinking Exercises14:15 Perfect Weeks Myth15:25 Perfect Sessions Myth17:10 Distracted Goals19:40 Procrastinating21:20 Wrap up As we put the finishing touches on the Rugby Recovery Code, get early access by requesting it herePlaybookJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

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. SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241 * ​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively * ​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery * ​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In * ​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese * ​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More * ​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance * ​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes * ​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

England have won the women's Rugby Union World Cup on home soil. The Red Roses beat Canada 33 - 13 at Twickenham.

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 video00:00 Intro01:44 The Modern Recovery Industry02:55 Understanding True Recovery04:27 The Three Main Reasons for Recovery04:42 Training Hard Enough to Make Progress06:57 Making Adaptations Through Recovery09:02 Handling the Demands of Rugby11:36 Integrating Recovery into Training12:28 Wrap upAs we put the finishing touches on the Rugby Recovery Code, get early access by requesting it herePlaybookJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

Get 10% OFF at elitefts (CODE: TABLE TALK): https://www.elitefts.com/  Shop Bands: https://www.elitefts.com/shop/bands.html   We welcome Mike Niklos to this episode of Dave Tate's Table Talk Podcast!   Since 2008, Mike Niklos has worked with athletes at every stage—from young athletes just beginning their journey to the highest-caliber professionals in the world. With nearly two decades of coaching experience, Mike has designed and implemented long-term athletic development programs for youth ages 8–18, as well as elite-level, high-performance training for professional, collegiate, and Olympic athletes.   His resume reads like a roll call of global sports organizations. Mike has trained and developed athletes competing in the NFL, CFL, XFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, USWNT, NWSL, UEFA, BBL, and Rugby Union. His ability to adapt programming to the demands of each sport—and the specific needs of each athlete—has made him a sought-after resource in the world of strength and conditioning.   Mike's coaching philosophy blends science-based performance principles with practical, real-world experience. He understands that building a dominant athlete requires more than just raw strength; it's about developing speed, agility, power, durability, and mental toughness over time. His long-term approach to youth training lays a foundation that not only improves performance in the short term but sustains it throughout an athlete's career. For professionals, his programming is dialed in to optimize peak performance when it matters most—on game day.   https://www.instagram.com/niklos11/   THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS  Get 10% OFF Your Next Marek Health Labs (CODE: TABLETALK): https://marekhealth.com/ Get a free 8-count Sample Pack of LMNT's most popular drink mix flavors with any purchase: https://partners.drinklmnt.com/free-gift-with-purchase?utm_campaign=agwp&am…   Save Up to 20% at Sleepme (CODE: TABLE TALK): https://sleep.me/tabletalk Get 10% OFF RP Hypertrophy App (CODE: TABLE TALK) :https://go.rpstrength.com/hypertrophy-app/  Get 10% OFF at elitefts (CODE: TABLE TALK): https://www.elitefts.com/  Get 10% OFF at Granite Nutrition (CODE TABLETALK): https://granitenutrition.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=audio&utm_campaign=Dave_Tate Support Massenomics! https://www.massenomics.com/ Use the discount code ELITEFTS20 to save 20% on your next monthly, yearly, or lifetime MASS Research Review membership plan. The discount lasts FOREVER!  https://massresearchreview.com/     SUPPORT THE SHOW    All profits from elitefts Limited Edition Apparel, Table Talk Coffee, and Team elitefts Workouts, Programs, and Training eBooks support Dave Tate's Table Talk Podcast.    elitefts Shop: https://www.elitefts.com/  elitefts IG: https://www.instagram.com/elitefts/    elitefts  Limited Edition Apparel: https://www.elitefts.com/shop/apparel/limited-edition.html

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 Intro01:52 Tip 1: Accept the Risk of Rugby04:03 Tip 2: Get Strong05:57 Tip 3: Get Fit07:08 Tip 4: Improve Your Technique08:21 Tip 5: Expose Yourself to Game Stresses10:04 Tip 6: Manage Your Load12:00 Tip 7: Manage Your Recovery13:20 Wrap upPlaybookJoin Team Rugby MuscleGet personalised 1on1 Coaching from me for S&CGet early access to the ALL-NEW 5-day Rugby Athlete BlueprintSupport the show

Today's episode is an edited version of a talk about rugby union's concussion crisis which I gave to the North of England Medico-Legal Society in Newcastle in April 2025, for which I'd like to thank Alex Littlefair for the invitation. It looks at the history of concussion in men's rugby union, examines how it has changed over the past fifty years, investigates the impact of professionalism, and looks at the weight of cultural traditions which have held back the sport's ability to deal with the crisis confronting it. As well as looking at the evolution of its attitudes to concussion, I also look at how rugby union's hyper-masculine traditions - inherited from its founders in the mid-nineteenth century - have shaped its understanding of injuries and have remained essentially unchanged over almost two centuries. Perhaps we can find the roots of the problem not only in today's hyper-professional sport but also in its roots as the symbol of nineteenth-century manhood?

The conversation begins, continues, but rarely ends, on Discourse! As mentioned, you can become a member of our VIP community by donating a small monthly amount to show your support, and dive into sports science and opinion. We are also on YouTube now, for those who want to watch.Show notesIn today's spotlight, our Discourse Digest looks back at some remarkable track & field performances and how they set up enthralling races in the upcoming Tokyo World Championships. We talk Kipyegon, Tsegay, Chebet, Hodgkinson and Lyles. Tensions between the UCI and cycling teams boiled over with a standoff around rider tracking the latest in the ongoing rider-safety struggles. We discuss how the failure of both sides to compromise and communicate is impacting rider risk.Risk conversations continue with news that World Boxing will follow athletics' example by screening for sex to protect the integrity of the women's boxing category and the safety of its fighters. Finally, instrumented mouthguards now have an LED light, and we discuss how many are only now becoming aware of this innovation and system for head impact management in Rugby Union.In Centre Stage (48:17) we turn our attention to doping. Gabby Thomas has called for lifetime bans for coaches whose athletes dope. We explain why it's not quite that simple, legally and philosophically. It's all part of the complexity of the anti-doping landscape, which we explore further with examples of recent doping cases and claims about who bears fault, when bans begin and which performances are tainted.Listener Lens (1:01:58) involves discussion about heart rate as a guide to training intensity on hot days. Ross explains that we can measure, but not manage our training while our physiology does the necessary in the heat. That becomes a conversation about Zone 2 training in Ross Replies (1:09:47), as listener Niall shares questions about how to incorporate this training intensity into his journey towards fitness and performance.And finally (1:13:16), Josh asks who you'd put on your Mount Rushmore of athletes? An impossible question, but Gareth and Ross share their thoughts, raising some eyebrows with picks and how they value sporting icons and their legacies.LinksVaughters interview about safety in cycling and the UCI standoffWorld Boxing sex screening articleListener Lens on HR in the heat - Discourse members onlyZone 2 thoughts - the mega thread from our listeners - Discourse onlyMount Rushmore of sport Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.