RugbyKO Katrina Oxenham

Mick Byrne is the head coach of the Fijian Drua. Hear how Mick made the transition from playing AFL to rugby, to AFL coach, rugby assistant coach, and now Head Coach of the new franchise in the Super Rugby competition, the Fiji Drua. We dive into the lessons Mick has learned over his extensive career, and why he chose to enroll in a psychology course to address his own ideas when his coaching wasn’t being acted on. Find out what differentiates a great coach from a good one, and why team culture and giving everyone a voice is so key in maintaining the relationship between assistant and head coach when challenges arise. Listen in to hear why Fijian players are so passionate, what this means for their game, and how the inclusion of two pacific island teams into Super rugby is helping prevent the skills drain to offshore teams. We wrap up with Mick’s hopes and goals for the Fijian Drua, and what you can expect from them going forward. 
An introduction to Mick Byrne, head coach of the Fijian Drua. How Mick landed the job after his roles as head coach in Australian Rules and assistant rugby coach.Why Mick made the switch from AFL to rugby and his journey from player to coach. What differentiates the good coaches from the great coaches like Mick: different approaches to discipline and Mick’s enrolment in a psychology course. Being the assistant coach at the Wallabies and the All Blacks, and what Mick learned about the game of rugby in the country.  How Mick coped with agitation and disagreements with the head coach: creating a unified team culture. Why rugby in Fiji has become part of the fabric of the nation and why so many are passionate players and also fans of the team and the game. What the pacific island teams are bringing to the Super Rugby franchise. Managing coaching the Fijian Drua through the COVID-19 pandemic; the pros and cons. How the induction of the Fijian Drua into Super rugby is addressing the loss of local players to offshore teams. The coaching staff involved in the Fijian Drua. How World Rugby is supporting the Fijian Drua.Mick's advice to other coaches and what he's learned throughout his career. Sticking it out when the team turns on you: Mick’s suggestions on building a good environment. Why the Fijian Sevens' success hasn't translated to Fijian 15-a-side. Mick’s plans for the Fijian Drua going into the next phase of the season.The Fijian Drua’s chances in the Super Rugby pool, and their goals. “I actually started to really enjoy the Aussie rules game. Running around fit my build. I was able to do a lot more in Australian Rules football with my build than I was able to do in rugby.” — Mick Byrne [0:02:24] 
“My message wasn’t getting through. I still believe I was giving out good information, but it wasn’t being heard, it wasn’t being acted on. Something had to change: either I was going to have to give coaching away and get a real job, or I was going to have to work on myself.” — Mick Byrne [0:05:28] 
“When it came to rugby, [Fijians] play the good parts of rugby. They don’t get caught up in the aspects of the game that are a bit stifling, they like to play the fun parts of the game.” — Mick Byrne [0:10:30] 
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Mick Byrne on LinkedIn
Fijian Drua
Katrina Email Address
RugbyKO

After his very recent retirement from playing Rugby, like many players, life after professional rugby can be difficult. Sam Wykes’ experience was no different at first. 

However, with some determined resolve,  he has created a wealth of opportunities for himself, from commentating to coaching and even corporate recruitment. 

We hear what Sam’s transition from the life of a professional athlete to a desk job  has been like, and how he has continued to give back to the rugby community. 

We find out how COVID-19 and injury combined to spell the end of his career, and how he handled the difficult emotions surrounding this. 

Sam also talks to us about his exciting new role and experience as a commentator for the Fijian Drua and some of the challenges he's faced, and what he is looking forward to this Super Rugby season.

We reminisce over his time at the Western Force and the Waratahs, and how the culture differs between these two teams. 
Welcome to Sam Wykes, professional rugby player, commentator, and recruiter.What Sam enjoyed most about playing professional rugby, and what he’s going to miss most. The lessons learned from transitioning from playing sport for a living into the corporate world: don’t expect to be good from the start, and adjusting to the office environment.Sam’s experience playing in Japan, from living there to learning from some of the best rugby minds in the world. What Sam thinks the Fijian Drua will bring to Super Rugby. Where to hear Sam commentating.The training he has received to prepare him for commentating, and the technical challenges that he faced. Moving from the Western Force to the Waratahs and the differences Sam noticed between the two teams. What Sam did during his time off due to injury, and the importance of giving back to the sport at the grassroots level. The connections and social skills that will help grow the game, and getting the game back to where it was. Skills that Sam transferred from rugby to working in recruitment (not computer skills).The importance of having tough conversations, from rugby to the corporate world. 

“You’re surrounded by good people, a lot. Whether you’re in a winning team or a losing team it doesn’t matter. And any time I treated rugby like a job, I was unhappy. Because at the end of the day you’re supposed to enjoy it.” — @SamWykes4 [0:01:24] 
“I always say ‘Yes’ to opportunities, even if I’ve got no experience, or probably no right being there.” — @SamWykes4 [0:11:21] 
“We need all our teams firing at the moment to have a strong Wallabies team. There’s enough talent out there. I just think we’re neglecting the grassroots or the public school system to be able to get rugby playing again.” — @SamWykes4 [0:17:33] 
“What I did is what I normally do, is just see if I can be of service to someone else. There’s always someone worse off than you, and there’s always someone better off than you. So, you just need to stay grateful.” — @SamWykes4 [0:19:28]


Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Sam Wykes on LinkedIn
Katrina Email Address
RugbyKO
Email RugbyKO

Developing Rugby India with Nasser Hussain
Most nations that play rugby also play cricket. One notable exception is India, where rugby is still a fledgling sport currently categorised under ‘other sports’. Today, we talk to Nasser Hussain, the CEO of Rugby India and the man responsible for putting the game on the map in India. Tune in to find out how Nasser himself got involved in the game and why he felt it was important to become an accredited world rugby trainer. We learn about the two major challenges facing Rugby India (infrastructure and media exposure), and what Nasser and his team are doing to address these. From the union’s upcoming targets for the high-performance Asian Games and Olympic teams to maintaining rugby participation at a grassroots level through the pandemic while supporting the community in any way possible, Nasser and his team are doing an incredible job! Join us to learn all about how this inspiring man is rousing a nation to rugby. 
Key Points From This Episode:
Who Nasser Hussain is and his journey from playing to chairing Rugby India. The roles that Nasser and his father have played in Rugby India and the game itself. His perspective on what being an accredited world rugby trainer means for Rugby India.How COVID-19 has affected participation in rugby in India and what Nasser has been doing to try and maintain it. The role of commercial sponsors in supporting the growth of rugby in India. How cricket and rugby in India co-exist and why Nasser feels they hold different spaces.The infrastructure across India that is a challenge to the growth of rugby. The challenge of media exposure for rugby in India and what Nasser is doing to address it. Rugby India's broad strategic plan to target the Asian Games and the Olympics.  The structure of Rugby India, from the union to the executive team and the roles of each. What success to the administrative side of Rugby India looks like: good governance, model implementation, and improving high performance. Why it’s important to move Rugby out of the ‘other sports’ category.What the Stand United movement was and how Rugby India supported the community through the pandemic. 

“What we identified within Rugby India was there are a lot of players, but not enough coaches, not enough match officials. I think that's [one of] the challenges for developing unions.” — Nasser Hussain [0:04:39] 
“During COVID, surprisingly, we’ve managed to get more partners on board. The fact that we didn’t have much to do on field [meant that] we spent time doing things which you put on the back burner and don’t prioritise, which are important as well.” — Nasser Hussain [0:08:30] 
“Our focus is to ensure [that] our management and administration is top-notch, and hopefully everything else follows suit.” — Nasser Hussain [0:19:56] 
Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:
Nasser Hussain on LinkedIn
Rugby India
Government of Odisha
Blade India
Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology
BLK
Katrina Email Address
RugbyKO
Email RugbyKO

#A Day In Union is about uniting and connecting the rugby community globally.  The initiative  of Greg Mumm and John Anderson, A Day In Union aims to bring rugby back to its grassroots and shift the narrative to a more positive one., uniting all. We discuss where the idea came from, how everyone can get involved, and what different clubs around Australia are doing to celebrate it. We also find out what John has been up to as president of The Rugby Club of Victoria, and how he's making the sport more inclusive. Gregg tells us about his international coaching experience, athletes and their life post professional sport, and how the Fijian optimism and cultural identity inspired him to do a master's degree. We discuss the challenges facing players dealing with the end of their professional careers, and what to look out for as A Day In Union (26th of March) approaches. 
We chat about  how Gregg and John brought the concept of A Day In Union to life.  Bringing all levels of rugby together, with a united goal for rugby. When A Day In Union is (26th of March), what it entails and how you can get involved. What the clubs around Australia are doing to celebrate it. Who is involved as ambassadors for A Day in Union.Taking the grass-roots approach, and the catalysts behind realising the efficacy of it. Why giving back to communities and organisations will unify the game. Shifting the narrative in the game from divisive to positive; Gregg’s initiatives.John’s role as the president of the Rugby Club of Victoria, and what this entails.Bringing wheelchair rugby into the rugby community. Gregg’s experience of international coaching, and athlete management.Growing rugby in the Pacific: the benefits of Pacific clubs entering Super Rugby.How the Final Whistle supports the development of an athlete's identity outside of the sport. John’s experience mentoring players to the end of their professional sporting career. Why it's beneficial to invest in players' outside of rugby before the end of their careerThe lessons Gregg has learned transitioning from rugby to farming. Using #ADayInUnion. “Rugby, unfortunately, as in most sports, was struggling with this concept of how to manage COVID and the impacts of it, so [A Day in Union] was about creating a good news story, about creating something to look forward to.” — John Anderson [0:02:06] .
“The game needs to go back to looking after its own people and own communities. This is hopefully a step in that direction, where we are reminded that the game’s great if we look after those communities and share the values and the fun and enjoyment that we grew up with.” — @gmumm1 [0:10:09]

“It’s almost been cooler in rugby circles to be divisive, lately, than it has been to be collaborative, so this is just reminding people that ‘let’s come together and tell good stories rather than bad stories’.” — @gmumm1 [0:12:24]

A Day In Union
John Anderson on LinkedIn
Greg Mumm on LinkedIn
The Positive Rugby Foundation
The Final Whistle
RugbyKO

Today’s guest, Robbie McRobbie, is a Scottish-born, British-educated, former police officer who is currently the CEO of the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU). Furthermore, he is a recipient of an MBE award for the role he has played in changing the lives of at-risk youth through sport, as well as the work he has done to advance UK/Hong Kong relations. 

HKRU was the only national sports association to have a charity component, and we hear about the success of HKRU’s Community Foundation.  Robbie's focus though is currently on the globally recognised Hong Kong Sevens Tournament, which Robbie is hopeful to have up and running again in November. The pandemic has meant that the past few years have not been easy, and Robbie speaks with humility about the challenges they have faced and the exciting plans he has for HKRUs future.
Robbie shares what his journey from the Hong Kong Police force to the Hong Kong Rugby Union (HKRU) has looked likeThe honour that Robbie was awarded in 2019Work being done by Operation Breakthrough, and Robbie’s involvement in the organisation HKRUs Community Foundation, and the instrumental role that Robbie played in setting it up. How HKRU is working towards eliminating the polarisation which plagues Hong Kong. Robbie explains how he feels about being the person in charge of the very successful Hong Kong Sevens Tournament.Some of the factors which he believes have contributed to the success of the Hong Kong Sevens Tournament. The profound impact that the pandemic has had on HKRU.HKRU’s strategy for organisational sustainability.  The Growth being experienced by Hong Kong’s sports sector.Robbie explains how the Hong Kong Premiership works, and the differences between the men’s and women’s premierships. A key focus of HKRU’s current strategic plan.The effort that HKRU is putting into promoting TRY Rugby, and the challenges of keeping the youth interested in the sport. HKRU’s relationship with World Rugby and other rugby unions. What the future holds for Hong Kong’s rugby teams. “[At Operation Breakthrough] we used sport and engagement with police officers to try and provide them with some positive role models and to try to break down barriers between the cops and the kids so the two sides stopped seeing each other as the enemy.” — Robbie McRobbie [0:06:39] 
“If you’re lucky enough to be handed the reins, the mantle, the opportunity to take a lead with the Rugby Sevens, you feel very much like you are being handed a family heirloom to look after.” — Robbie McRobbie [0:12:36] 
“Our hope and aim and objective is to get the Sevens back as soon as it is safe and practical. We have a date for November this year, so fingers crossed for that.” — Robbie McRobbie [0:18:59] 
“One of the key focuses of the current strategic plan is to become a more data-driven organisation.” — Robbie McRobbie [0:31:14] 
Hong Kong Rugby Union
Hong Kong Rugby Union Community Foundation
Operation Breakthrough 
Kai Tak Sports Park
Premier Sports Asia
Robbie McRobbie on LinkedIn
RugbyKO

Sport, rugby in particular, formed the foundation of Nick Leah’s childhood. Walcha where he grew up,  had several Ex-Wallabies and aspirational Wallaby trialists namely Peter Fenwick – who captained the Wallabies & Andrew Laurie who both along with his Dad drove  a lot of the sport in the town & coached Rugby and Cricket. His dad also coached NSW Country and various zone representative teams, and heavily involved in reviving Junior Rugby in Country NSW during the late 70’s and early 80’s.
 
This  passion for developing the next generation of players took Nick from a passionate player as a child into an equally passionate coach and development expert as an adult. 

Over the past 20 years Nick has worked with sportspeople at all levels all over the world (with a 1 in 4 record of producing professionally contracted players!), and today, he is the Global General Manager of 6 Degree Sports, an elite performance consultancy which he shares some details about in today’s episode. 

We also get into what drives Nick to do the work that he does, what he sees as the main issues preventing Australian rugby from thriving as it should, and why he believes that creating a clear vision is essential for the future of the game.
Key Points From This Episode:
A rundown of Nick’s professional background.Nick explains the fundamental role that sport has played in his life since he was a child.Inspiration behind the founding of Ignite Rugby Group, now 6 Degree Sport.The key factor that made Nick’s hometown so successful in sports. Nick’s thoughts on the current state of Australian rugby. Characteristics that Nick believes make a good coach. Some of the pros and cons of Australian rugby. Learnings from a study that Nick conducted on a former NFL player. Articles that Nick has written in the past. What Australian rugby needs to do to gain back support of the players and the fans. How women’s rugby is evolving across the world. Nick explains what the 6 Degree Sport platform consists of. A new Rugby App launching soon in conjunction with The NSW Positive Rugby Foundation.What the 6 Degree Sports platform consists of and how it will benefit rugby players.“I saw what an organisation could do when everything is interconnected and there’s clarity around what you can do, and then I saw the exact opposite.” — Nick Leah [0:08:16] 
“The Ignite concept was born out of, “How do we create a platform that can provide the information that grassroots coaches can easily access and provide to the players?” — Nick Leah [0:10:08] 
“The best coaches provide a clear vision, can get people together, and are also looking at what’s next.” — Nick Leah [0:19:41] 
“In terms of skill development and acquisition, the body learns when the conditions for each repetition is slightly different – the body then has to adapt to get movement to a certain ‘end-point’.' — Nick Leah [0:26:51] 
Six Degree Sports
Six Degree Sports on Facebook
Six Degree Sports App
Chris Coyle
Nick Leah on LinkedIn
Walcha Rugby Union on Facebook
Country Rugby Union