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. Drawing on that experience, he shares his insights into positioning, game awareness, leading the back three, dominating the high ball, and the qualities that separate good fullbacks from great ones.We also dive into leadership, player-led versus coach-led environments, high performance, talent development, and the habits that allowed Mike to perform at the highest level for over two decades.Topics covered:🏉 The role of the modern fullback🏉 Reading the game and positioning🏉 Leading the back three🏉 Winning aerial contests🏉 Player-led vs coach-led environments🏉 Leadership and accountability🏉 High performance habits🏉 Longevity in professional rugby🏉 Talent identification and developmentIf you're a rugby player, coach, or fan looking to better understand elite performance and the fullback position, this episode is packed with practical insights.#Rugby #MikeBrown #EnglandRugby #Fullback #RugbyCoaching #HighPerformance #Leadership #TheRugbyInstitute #RugbyPodcast #PlayerDevelopment #TalentID #BackThree #RugbyAnalysis #ProfessionalRugby #SportsLeadership===========================Connect with us! =============================Tik Tok: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteInstagram: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteX: ➡︎ @RugbyInst===========================#therugbyinstitute #rugbycoaching #defencedrills #pasingdrillsOur mission at The Rugby Institute is to support rugby coaches in developing their skills, growing the game, and making a lasting impact on their teams and communities.

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.In this episode we get into what actually makes a good coach, why the old model of the coach as the expert in the middle is broken, and what a genuinely player-centred environment looks like in practice.What we cover:What makes a good coach (and why it's got nothing to do with credentials)The shift from giving answers to asking questionsWhy your job as a coach is to set puzzles, not run drillsHow to know when to intervene — and when to shut upBuilding a coaching culture inside your clubWhy enjoyment is the most underrated concept in rugby coachingAI and what it means for coach developmentHow Ireland's coaching system actually works🎙️ Guest: Colin Moran — IRFU National Training & Education Manager | World Rugby Master Trainer📺 Watch my jackling video here: https://youtu.be/aVp671N_Ptg===========================Connect with us! =============================Tik Tok: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteInstagram: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteX: ➡︎ @RugbyInst===========================#therugbyinstitute #rugbycoaching #defencedrills #pasingdrillsOur mission at The Rugby Institute is to support rugby coaches in developing their skills, growing the game, and making a lasting impact on their teams and communities.

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. We explore how top teams create space, identify defensive weaknesses, and consistently make the right front-door and back-door decisions in attack.We also dive into:• The Head on a 45° principle• Scanning and decision-making in attack• Training peripheral vision as a skill• Why players miss obvious opportunities• Vision, breathing, and performance under pressure• Creating better decision-makers in rugby• Practical coaching drills you can use immediately• Connecting players through shared pictures and languageWhether you're a player, coach, or rugby enthusiast, this episode offers practical insights into developing game awareness and improving on-field decision-making.Subscribe for more conversations with leading coaches, players, and performance experts from around the world.#Rugby #RugbyCoaching #SkillAcquisition #DecisionMaking #Scanning #GameAwareness #RugbySkills #PlayerDevelopment #CoachDevelopment #RugbyUnion #HighPerformance #VisionTraining #TheRugbyInstitute===========================Connect with us! Tik Tok: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteInstagram: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteX: ➡︎ @RugbyInst===========================Our mission at The Rugby Institute is to support rugby coaches in developing their skills, growing the game, and making a lasting impact on their teams and communities.

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:What makes a great coachBuilding a training environment players want to come back toThe offload — what's really happening pre and post contactScanning and decision makingWhy Craig believes we need to stop obsessing over perfect techniqueWhat's being undercoached at every level of the gameCoaching tips for school and club coachesWhether you're a school coach, club coach or just love the game — there's something in here for you.🎬 WATCH NEXT — Jackling Technique Breakdownhttps://youtu.be/aVp671N_Ptg===========================Connect with us! =============================Tik Tok: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteInstagram: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteX: ➡︎ @RugbyInst===========================#therugbyinstitute #rugbycoaching #defencedrills #pasingdrillsOur mission at The Rugby Institute is to support rugby coaches in developing their skills, growing the game, and making a lasting impact on their teams and communities.

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. He also shares how he builds defensive culture, gives honest feedback to players, and has the hard conversations every coach needs to have.Whether you're a club coach or a professional, Tom's practical approach to defence coaching, tackling systems, and player development will give you tools you can apply immediately.In this video:The chop-smash tackling system explainedHow to coach the assist tacklerThe bullseye tackle techniqueDefensive communication and line speedHow to build a defensive system for club rugbyGiving honest feedback and having hard conversationsBuilding a defensive culture in your team===========================Connect with us! =============================Tik Tok: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteInstagram: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteX: ➡︎ @RugbyInst===========================#therugbyinstitute #rugbycoaching #defencedrills #pasingdrillsOur mission at The Rugby Institute is to support rugby coaches in developing their skills, growing the game, and making a lasting impact on their teams and communities.

Welcome to The Rugby Institute! 🏉If you're a coach, player, or just love rugby, this is the place to learn, improve, and connect. We break down game tactics, training drills, strength & conditioning, and mindset—all with real, practical advice from top players and coaches.This isn’t just a channel—it’s a community. Drop your thoughts in the comments, share what works for you, and help others get better. Let’s grow the game together.===========================Connect with us! =============================Tik Tok: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteInstagram: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteX: ➡︎ @RugbyInst===========================#therugbyinstitute #rugbycoaching #defencedrills #pasingdrillsOur mission at The Rugby Institute is to support rugby coaches in developing their skills, growing the game, and making a lasting impact on their teams and communities.

What does it actually mean to learn a skill?In this conversation with Adam Gorman, we dive into the science of skill acquisition and what it really looks like in training and competition.We explore:How players truly learn skills (and why it’s not through repetition alone)Why “perfect technique” often breaks down in gamesThe role of challenge, mistakes, and problem-solving in learningHow to design training that transfers to performanceWhy game-based environments accelerate developmentThe importance of autonomy, motivation, and engagementIf you’re a coach or player trying to understand how to improve performance, this episode will completely change how you think about training.===========================Connect with us! =============================YouTube: ➡︎ https://www.youtube.com/@therugbyinstituteInstagram: ➡︎ @rugbyinstitute===========================#therugbyinstitute #rugbycoaching #defencedrills #pasingdrillsOur mission at The Rugby Institute is to support rugby coaches in developing their skills, growing the game, and making a lasting impact on their teams and communities.

my Turner won 7 Six Nations Grand Slams and earned 3 World Cup selections as an England international. She then went on to coach at every level of the game, from school rugby to the Premiership men's programme at Harlequins and England u20s.Her approach to developing players looks different from most. And in this episode, she explains exactly why.Amy shares how to use games to build real rugby skills, why training doesn't always have to look like rugby, and how the best coaches build trust and keep players coming back week after week.What we cover:What makes a good coachHow to use games within games to get more reps and better outcomesAmy's 4 go-to games (Fiji Touch, Grenade Touch, Top 14 Touch & Rugby Netball)Why fundamentals matter more than shape at youth levelHow to reward behaviour over talentThe role of sport psychology in becoming a better coachFree IDP Template: https://therugbyinstitute.com/idp-individual-development-plan===========================Connect with us! =============================Tik Tok: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteInstagram: ➡︎ @rugbyinstituteX: ➡︎ @RugbyInst===========================#therugbyinstitute #rugbycoaching #defencedrills #pasingdrillsOur mission at The Rugby Institute is to support rugby coaches in developing their skills, growing the game, and making a lasting impact on their teams and communities.