This is the 5th episode of a 9-part series on the 1924 New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ rugby team forever known as “The Invincibles”.

This series is both the telling of an epic story and an extraction of timeless lessons around shared identity, team culture and leadership.

In each episode I am joined by a guest who helps navigate the events that unfold, and sheds light on insights that have a contemporary significance.

In this 5th episode I’m joined by my friend Pippa Grange. Pippa is a world class performance psychologist and culture coach. She has an amazing CV which includes working as the England men's football team's Sports Psych under Gareth Southgate, and publishing her bestseller "Fear-less".

This episode is called “Momentum” and explores the team’s finding of its on and off field identity as the tour progresses, including:

• shifting external perceptions and expectations of the team
• a close call against Newport - but also an example of deep composure under pressure
• incursions by outsiders into the locker room
• a highly emotive context of playing Leicester on the anniversary of the death of 1905 Originals All Blacks captain Dave Gallaher (at the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917)
• the team building momentum, and finding pockets of flow, in the north of England

In this episode Pippa and I traverse these events and explore in conversation:

• healthy team cultures
• Cliff Porter's leadership strengths
• profiling some players past trauma and the power of this experience on their wellbeing
• the concepts of momentum and flow

Click here to purchase a copy of Owen's book, Belonging.

This is the 4th episode of a 9-part series on the 1924 New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ rugby team forever known as “The Invincibles”.

This series is both the telling of an epic story and an extraction of timeless lessons around shared identity, team culture and leadership.

In each episode I am joined by a guest who helps navigate the events that unfold & and shed light on insights that have a contemporary significance.

In this 4th episode I’m joined by my friend – Kieran Read. Kieran is a former New Zealand All Blacks rugby player who earned 127 Test caps, was an integral member of their 2011 and 2015 Rugby World Cup victories, and captained the All Blacks 52 times. Since retiring from professional rugby, Kieran has established a highly respected leadership development practice.

This episode is called “The Intervention” and traces the first few weeks of the tour - that heavily shaped what was to come.

This episode includes the story of:

• weak early tour form
• external pessimism
• weak internal standards
• the captain & player leadership group formulating a new 'culture code'
• a player only intervention meeting
• the re-setting of standards

In this episode Kieran and I traverse these events and explore in conversation:

• the power of player ownership
• the echoing down the decades / whakapapa of the Invincibles influence
• the power of aligning key leaders & giving them a common language
• managing external media and fan noise (along the spectrum of complete doom to wild optimism)

The visual version of this episode, including images of players and events mentioned, is available on YouTube here: XXX

Click here to purchase a copy of Owen's book, Belonging.

This is the 3rd episode of a 9-part series on the 1924 New Zealand ‘All Blacks’ rugby team forever known as “The Invincibles”.

This series is both the telling of an epic story and an extraction of timeless lessons around shared identity, team culture and leadership. It is about storytelling and learnings – not scrums and lineouts.

In each episode I am joined by a guest who helps navigate the events that unfold & and shed light on insights that have a contemporary significance.

In this 3rd episode I’m joined by my friend – Wayne Smith. Smithy is a former All Black who earned 17 caps in the 1980s before transitioning into one of rugby’s most successful and respected coaches. He played a pivotal role as assistant coach in guiding the All Blacks to Rugby World Cup triumphs in 2011 and 2015, and later guided the NZ women’s rugby team – the Black Ferns - to their 2022 World Cup victory. .

This episode is called “The Voyage” and traces the 'forming' stage of this team during their 39 day boat voyage from Wellington, New Zealand to Plymouth, England.

This episode includes the story of:

• a new captain ... without a plan
• creation of a Player Leadership Group
• developing an innovative daily ritual
• a deep story of the team value of "caring"
• sacrifice in action by the new captain

In this episode Wayne and I traverse these events and explore in conversation:

• the power of team Identity
• the importance of connecting talent to the shirt they wear
• the power of tracking team values back in time
• player empowerment as a coaching philosophy
• the power of rituals
• the benefits of big picture framing in high performance pursuits

The visual version of this episode, including images of players and events mentioned, is available on YouTube here: XXX

Click here to purchase a copy of Owen's book, Belonging.