Some teams win because they have better players. Leicester Tigers, at their best, won because they had a culture that could survive anything, including brutal training, relentless internal competition, and the pressure of living up to an identity everyone could see from the stands.

We sit down with Geordan Murphy, Leicester player, captain, coach, and senior leader across 23 years at the club. Geordan tells the story of arriving from Ireland on what was supposed to be a three week trial, then being thrown straight into first team training with Lions and internationals. We dig into what made that era so formidable: standards that never blinked, competitiveness that stayed on the field, and the idea that you can earn your place by being different, not just bigger. Geordan also shares how he used creativity, skill work, and rugby IQ as his edge in a world that worshiped strength.

From there we get into the nuts and bolts of coaching culture and leadership: why “the behaviors you accept” is the real definition of culture, how recruitment decisions either protect the environment or slowly poison it, and why a clear vision of how you play is inseparable from identity. Jordan opens up about the hardest stretch of his career, taking over under fire, navigating the pandemic, feeling the loneliness of head coaching, and the sting of being let go after two decades with little closure. If you lead people, this conversation will make you think about performance, endings, and what it takes to reach out before the pressure cooker changes who you are.

If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a coach or leader who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find Coaching Culture.

Send us Fan Mail

Hurry Book Japan Coaches tour here https://gullivers.com.au/product/elite-coaches-tour-of-japan/

For all your sports equipment for your club book here https://silverfernsport.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOor-fPBP0LQQzULWdxM0rE-B4bqPrsoa6j9zROuksE21oxHu8ZA6

Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide)

https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au

Support the show

Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

Send us Fan Mail

For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture

Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au

Support the show

Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

Most teams don’t lose because they lack information. They lose because pressure hijacks attention, connection, and decision making. Craig White joins us to unpack a simple truth that too many coaches miss: your team feels your nervous system before they hear your message, and what you model becomes the culture.

We dig into conscious leadership and the difference between regulated and dysregulated coaching. Craig breaks down the “to me, by me, through me, as me” framework, why victim language spreads fast in staff rooms, and how a grounded coach can deliver hard feedback without becoming unsafe. We also talk brotherhood and connection as the foundation for high performance, not a soft extra. When people feel safe, they challenge each other, learn faster, and play freer.

From there we take it off the field. Many high achievers are visible at home but not present, chasing results because they think validation must be earned. Craig shares how to train presence like a skill, build relational fitness, set boundaries that protect family time, and use master regulators like sleep and nature to reset the nervous system. We finish with attention and intention, and why focused awareness changes outcomes in the gym, rehab, and leadership itself.

If you want practical tools for coaching culture, emotional safety, and leadership under pressure, listen through and share this with a coach who needs it. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: where do you most want to be more present this week?

Send us Fan Mail

For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture

Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide)

https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1

Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au

Support the show

Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.