What happens when young athletes step outside their comfort zones and experience the world through the lens of rugby? Ken Grover, the 79-year-old founder of Gulliver's Travel, has been answering this question for over four decades through more than 4,000 tours worldwide.

From his early days touring with Norths Rugby Club in 1973 to organizing massive contingents for Rugby World Cups, Ken has witnessed firsthand how travel transforms young people. "The epitome of culture is going to Japan," he explains, describing how tours expose players to different approaches both on and off the field—from the Japanese respect for opponents through bowing to their practice of cleaning locker rooms after matches.

The power of these experiences reaches far beyond rugby skills. Parents have called Ken saying, "Thank you, we've got our son back," after seeing positive changes in their children following tours. These transformations happen through the natural consequences of touring life: players learn punctuality, respect for opponents, and adaptability when facing unfamiliar challenges.

What makes Ken's perspective particularly valuable is his recognition that tours create "learning curves that never end." The unexpected situations—like navigating a cyclone during the Japan World Cup or adapting to different playing styles—often provide the most meaningful growth opportunities. As he puts it, "Failure as well as success are two sides of the coin, and they're both very important in the learning curve."

Perhaps most significantly, rugby tours build connections that transcend the sport itself. The shared experiences create bonds that last decades, forming networks of friendship and support that extend throughout players' lives. "Rugby is a special place where you can go anywhere in the world and meet rugby people," Ken observes, highlighting the sport's unique ability to create global community.

Ready to transform your team through the power of travel? Discover how a rugby tour could become the defining experience that helps your players grow not just as athletes, but as leaders, global citizens, and better versions of themselves.

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Want a culture that actually lives on the field? We sat down with Eddie Jones to unpack the coaching choices that create real belonging, sharper decision-making, and braver rugby. From leaving a safe career to grinding through 100‑player university squads in Japan, Eddie shows how risk, clarity, and context build both teams and coaches who last.

We dive into designing culture through the game itself—why a clear playing model unites diverse squads better than slogans, and how fundamentals must be taught in context to transfer under pressure. Eddie breaks down why over-organization dulls vision, how to use patterns to break defenses without becoming a slave to shape, and the simple scans elite playmakers use to act faster. He shares the power of role clarity and one‑on‑one coaching to remove hidden blocks, plus practical ways to keep feedback immediate and light using just a phone.

You’ll hear the Brumbies reset story—accepting a bad year, flipping conditioning and structure, and co-creating a plan leaders owned all the way to titles. Eddie is candid about missteps too: reading the global kicking trend late, pushing change too fast, and why he still chooses boldness over comfort. We talk mentorship (keep your advice circle “super skinny”), hiring for character over credentials, and the daily routines that protect coaching energy. And yes, we go deep on tech: how to use it to accelerate learning while keeping the game flowing—goal-line and red-card TMO, let refs decide the rest.

If you’re a coach at any level, this conversation gives you a playbook: be the person players flock to, build the game that builds your culture, free minds with clarity, and take the smart risks others avoid. Listen, steal what works, and tell us the one change you’ll make this week. If this resonated, follow, share with another coach, and leave a quick review so more people find it.

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If you can SUBSCRIBE, RATE, and SHARE the show and series, you would be doing your bit to grow this show. Very appreciated. Ben

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www.coachingculture.com.au

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Send us a text

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