The Rugby Institute

Defence Systems & Tackle Technique with World Cup Winning Coach Wesley Clark

22K views · 1mo ago · 13:22

World Cup-winning coach Wesley Clark shares his approach to rugby defence systems and tackle technique, with practical coaching cues you can take into your next training session. In this excerpt from our full conversation, we explore organising the defensive line, coordinating tacklers, and why Wesley has moved away from coaching “foot in close”—focusing instead on pushing off the front foot and targeting the far knee.

How to Coach Pod Decisions: Carry, Tip or Backdoor? | Dylan Parsons

14K views · 1mo ago · 8:31

Guest: Dylan Parsons

How do you coach players to make better decisions from a rugby pod? Carry, tip or play out the back? In this video, Dylan Parsons breaks down how he coaches pod decision-making by teaching players to read the defence rather than simply following a pre-called option.

Structure vs Freedom: How Should Rugby Teams Really Attack? World Cup Winning Coach Graham Smith

15K views · 2mo ago · 1:15:24

World Cup-winning coach Graham Smith shares his approach to rugby coaching, player development and attacking rugby, including why he believes coaches should focus on principles rather than plans. Having helped coach England Women to the 2014 Rugby World Cup, Graham explains how they developed players who could make decisions, understand different roles and find the balance between structure and freedom.

How to Master the Rugby Offload | Footwork, Scanning & Hand Position with Craig Stewart

2.6K views · 2mo ago · 12:45

Guest: Craig Stewart

How to master the rugby offload with Craig Stewart, focusing on the key skills that make an offload effective: footwork, hand position, body position and decision making. In this video Body position when preparing to offload Creating options for the ball carrier

The Pressure Cycle: A Framework for Defensive Coaching by Ofentse Moeng

7.4K views · 2mo ago · 1:48:30

How do you turn defence into sustained pressure? In this conversation, Ofentse Moeng breaks down his approach to building a defensive system that puts the opposition under increasing pressure — from the kicking game and pressure zones, through to line speed, double tackles, tackle dominance and the breakdown.

What Rugby Coaches Can Learn from Football's Best Coach Developers - Paul Barry

1.4K views · 3mo ago · 1:17:41

Guest: Paul Barry

What can rugby coaches learn from one of football's leading coach developers? In this episode of The Rugby Institute Podcast, I sit down with Paul Barry, former Head of Coaching at Crystal Palace FC and coach developer with experience at Arsenal, Watford, The FA and Football DNA.

Why Most Rugby Coaches Train the Wrong Things | Kyle McLean

2.7K views · 3mo ago · 1:12:10

Guest: Kyle McLean

Are your training sessions actually preparing players for what happens on Saturday? In this episode of The Rugby Institute Podcast, coach developer Kyle McLean explains why many rugby coaches spend too much time training only a small part of the game. Drawing on research, coach development work, and real-world examples, Kyle shares how game-based training can improve player learning, increase engagement, and create better transfer from training to performance.

Are You Maximising the Coaches Around You? The Art of Co-Coaching with Coach Developer Harry Jones

1.9K views · 3mo ago · 1:18:50

Guest: Coach Developer Harry Jones

How do great coaching teams work together? Most coaches spend hours planning sessions, analysing games, and developing players. But how often do we think about developing the coaches around us? In this episode of The Rugby Institute Podcast, Gloucester Rugby Coach Development Manager Harry Jones delivers a masterclass on co-coaching.

How a Mafia Theme Created a Winning Team - Todd Dammers on Rugby Coaching, Defence and Theming

3.3K views · 3mo ago · 1:25:27

In this episode, Chicago Hounds Forwards & Defence Coach Todd Dammers shares one of the most creative examples of team theming I've ever come across. From "The Chicago Way" and "Made Men" to building a season-long culture that players genuinely bought into, Todd explains how great theming can create clarity, connection and performance.

What the Springboks, Fiji & the NFL Learnt from Richie Gray About Contact

7.1K views · 3mo ago · 1:22:11

Guest: Richie Gray

Breakdown and jackal skills Coaching methodology and player development Working with the Springboks, Fiji Rugby, Toulon, and the Miami Dolphins Building better collision athletes Connect with us! Tik Tok: ︎ @rugbyinstitute

Why Great Rugby Players See More Than Everyone Else - Dylan Parsons on Scanning and Decision Making

5.6K views · 4mo ago · 1:37:13

What separates great rugby players from the rest? According to Dylan Parsons, it’s not just skill execution — it’s what they see, when they see it, and where they place their attention. In this conversation, Dylan breaks down his "Head on a 45°" concept, explaining how elite players use their vision and peripheral awareness to make better decisions under pressure.

England International Mike Brown: What Makes a Great Fullback? With tips and skills on how to do it

531 views · 4mo ago · 1:13:07

Guest: England International Mike Brown

In this episode of The Rugby Institute, I sit down with former England fullback Mike Brown to explore what it really takes to excel in the number 15 jersey. Mike earned 72 caps for England, became England's most-capped fullback, won a Grand Slam, and built a professional career spanning more than 20 years.

Why Ireland Produces World Class Coaches - IRFU's National Training & Education Manager Colin Moran

2.2K views · 4mo ago · 1:32:41

Ireland punches well above its weight in producing elite coaches — and Colin Moran is a big part of why. As the IRFU's National Training and Education Manager for nearly 30 years, he's the architect behind the entire system that develops rugby coaches across Ireland, from mini rugby to the professional game.

Pro Skills Coach Craig Stewart Breaks Down Offloads, Scanning & Decision Making

3.7K views · 4mo ago · 1:00:47

Guest: Craig Stewart

In this video I sit down with Craig Stewart — a New Zealand rugby coach currently working as a skills coach with the Kobe Steelers in Japan's Top League. Craig shares a wealth of knowledge that applies at every level of the game, from professional rugby right down to your local club side. We cover

Tackling, Defence & Coaching Systems with Tom Martin

2.5K views · 5mo ago · 1:03:48

Guest: Tom Martin

In this episode, former New Zealand Sevens and Wellington Defence Coach Tom Martin breaks down his complete system for coaching defence and tackling in rugby. Tom covers his chop-smash tackle system, the bullseye tackle technique, how to coach your assist tackler, and his "nominate to dominate" framework for defensive communication and line speed.