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In this powerful episode of the Rugby Coach Weekly podcast, Dan Cottrell sits down with Regan Sue, co-founder of Haka Rugby Global, to explore how Maori culture, adaptability, and people-first coaching have helped shape one of the world’s most culturally rich rugby initiatives.

Regan shares stories from over a decade of running 100+ camps across 50 countries, unpacking the deeper meaning behind the haka, the power of coaching with cultural intent, and the nuances of leadership, energy, and skill development.

From managing chaotic changing rooms to instilling “mana” in every tackle, Regan explains how his coaching journey has always been rooted in adaptability and authenticity. With themes like the Warrior on the Edge and feet-fight-finish, he outlines how traditional values merge with technical excellence on the pitch and how every session balances smiles with sweat.

Links:

Insta: Haka Rugby Global

Facebook: Haka Rugby Global

Insta: Coach Regs

Facebook: Coach Regs

Regan has shared some key concepts:

Patu

He is the co-founder of Haka Rugby Global with business partner Troy Nathan
•⁠ ⁠100s camps, 50 countries, 30 Staff, 3000 players
•⁠ ⁠Utilise Māori culture and rugby as a tool to help create future world leaders

Maori culture as a way to grow players?
We know where we come from
•⁠ ⁠Turangawaewae: Where one stands, their place in the world: Belong
•⁠ ⁠Whakapapa (genealogy line of ancestors)
•⁠ ⁠Pepeha acknowledges: Mountain, River, Canoe, Tribes, Marae (meeting place), Family + Me

RESPECT
•⁠ ⁠He aha te mea nui o te ao? He tangata he tangata he tangata!
•⁠ ⁠What is the most important thing in the world? It is the people, the people, the people

•⁠ ⁠It’s better to walk into a room go to the back and be asked to go to the front, rather than walk into a room go to the front and be asked to go to the back.
When it’s your time to lead, your people will call you to the front

•⁠ ⁠Mana: Leader, Power, Strength, Service to the people… ”Prestige”
•⁠ ⁠In many cultures a person's status in society is determined by their financial wealth
•⁠ ⁠In Māori culture a person's status in the tribe is determined by their Mana
•⁠ ⁠You gain Mana by how you perform on the field

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

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, Dan Cottrell speaks with Leicester Tigers player and Peak Team Performance founder, Tiana Gordon, about the power of soft skills in coaching.

Drawing on her academic background in neuroscience, psychology, and mental health, Tiana shares practical tools to help coaches improve communication, build genuine connections, and regulate their emotions under pressure.

From managing difficult player conversations to creating inclusive environments that support the whole squad, not just the starting XV, this episode challenges coaches to go beyond the technical and rethink how they show up for their teams.

To find out more from Tiana, here are the key links:

Peak Team Performance:

Website: www.peaktp.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/peaktp/

Email: tiana@peaktp.com

Tiana Gordon:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tianagordon/

Email: tiana@peaktp.com

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

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, Dan Cottrell catches up with the globetrotting coach and former pro player Ben Herring. From being told he was too small for the 1st XV to wrestling with his dad for jackal strength, Ben shares a raw and inspiring journey through rugby, coaching, and personal growth.

Now Director of Rugby at Newington College and host of The Coaching Culture podcast, Ben reflects on how being underestimated shaped his coaching philosophy, why finding your niche is key to player success, and what it really means to develop team culture without losing individuality. The conversation travels from Japan to New Zealand to professional club rugby, touching on topics like over-coaching, player psychology, bench dynamics, and how stoic philosophy inspired a team-wide cultural shift.

A must-listen for any coach, educator, or rugby lover looking to lead with empathy and impact.

🔗 Highlights include:

• Being cut from school teams and how that built resilience
• Coaching culture lessons from Japan
• The role of repetition and language in learning
• Why sometimes it's OK to say, "Stuff the structure"
• Creating a unique team identity around stoicism
• How to balance team-first mentality with individual strengths

Here's a link to his show:

https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coaching-culture-with-ben-herring/id1788635110

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

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!