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In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell sits down with Steve Grainger, Executive Director of Rugby Development at England Rugby, for an open and thoughtful conversation about the state of the community game.

They explore how rugby is changing at grassroots level, from schools and clubs to coach education, workforce models, and the rise of T1 Rugby. Steve shares what has stayed stubbornly the same over decades, what has genuinely evolved since 2011, and where the biggest tensions now sit between tradition, participation, and sustainability.

This is a wide-ranging discussion about systems, people, and trade-offs, grounded in the realities of Sunday mornings, volunteer coaches, and the long-term health of the game. Essential listening for anyone involved in coaching, club leadership, or rugby development.

Five key takeaways

• Participation and sustainability matter as much as performance pathways in shaping the future of rugby.
• Community rugby thrives on resilience, not reliance, with clubs supported to solve problems locally.
• T1 Rugby is designed to reflect the core logic and values of rugby union, not just offer a non-contact alternative.
• Coach development is moving toward mentoring, peer learning, and flexible digital access rather than courses alone.
• The best future experience for young players will prioritise enjoyment, belonging, and learning over rigid tradition.

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What does it really take to align dozens of volunteer coaches, hundreds of players, and a whole club around one clear development pathway?

In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell is joined by Charlie Farrell, Age Grade Rugby Director at Banbridge RFC, to unpack the thinking behind the club’s new Coaches Playbook. Designed to guide player development from first contact to First XV, the Playbook goes far beyond drills and session plans.

Charlie explains why Banbridge needed a shared framework, how the five pillars (Technical, Tactical, Mental, Lifestyle, Physical) were shaped by lived coaching experience, and the very real challenges of rolling out change in a large, multi-sport community club. The conversation explores volunteer buy-in, consistency versus creativity, session planning, player behaviour, and what “success” actually looks like in age-grade rugby.

Key takeaways

• A shared Coaches Playbook improves consistency and clarity in rugby coaching across all age groups.
• Effective player development combines technical skills with mental, physical, and lifestyle habits.
• Volunteer coaches need support, mentoring, and simple frameworks rather than rigid rules.
• Organised, game-based training sessions create better experiences for players and parents.
• Long-term development and retention are more important than short-term wins in youth rugby.

Topics covered
Rugby coaching frameworks
Player development pathways
Grassroots rugby coaching
Supporting volunteer coaches
Coach education and mentoring
Age-grade rugby systems
Building club culture through coaching

To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach Weekly

To find out more about our Partner Club offer

CLICK HERE

Also, tap into the library of 4,000 pages of activities, advice, tactics and tips to help you become the best rugby coach you can be!

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In this episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell is joined by performance coach Nash Cohen to explore what it really means to coach with conviction.

From defining winning beyond the scoreboard to building trust under pressure, the conversation digs into principles, skill detail, and creating environments where players think, adapt, and grow.

Nash is the Head of Player & Performance Development Jamaica UK and Programme Director Elite Rugby Academy.

You can find out more about the work he does at:

eliterugbyacademy.co.uk

To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach Weekly

To find out more about our Partner Club offer

CLICK HERE

Also, tap into the library of 4,000 pages of activities, advice, tactics and tips to help you become the best rugby coach you can be!