Coaching Culture with Ben Herring

Ben Herring
  • 5.0 (10)
  • Rugby
  • Updated Weekly

Coaching Culture with Ben Herring is your weekly deep-dive into the often-overlooked “softer skills” of coaching—cultural innovation, communication, empathy, leadership, dealing with stress, and motivation. Each episode features candid conversations with the world’s top international rugby coaches, who share the personal stories and intangible insights behind their winning cultures, and too their biggest failures and learnings from them. This is where X’s and O’s meet heart and soul, empowering coaches at every level to foster authentic connections, inspire their teams, and elevate their own coaching craft. If you believe that the real gold in rugby lies beyond the scoreboard, Coaching Culture is the podcast for you.

  1. 1h ago

    How to Break Through as a Coach (Without a Playing Career)

    A Champions Cup-winning rugby attack coach who never played professional rugby should not make sense and that’s exactly why Noel McNamara’s story matters. We sit with the uncomfortable truth that the “perfect CV” is often overrated, and the real separator is how you think when an opportunity is risky, unglamorous, or confusing to everyone around you. We dig into what stood out most from Noel’s journey: a very low fear of failure and a willingness to say yes early. One move leads to the next, from New Zealand to South Africa to France, and suddenly the career looks inevitable even though none of the individual steps looked “reasonable” at the time. That launches a bigger reflection on the trap Justin Welsh describes: a chain of sensible choices that builds momentum, makes future decisions automatic, and eventually makes changing direction feel reckless. For coaches chasing a professional coaching career, that chain can quietly pull you away from the work and life you actually want. We close with three practical takeaways for ambitious coaches in rugby and beyond: back yourself before other people back you, chase learning not status, and choose adventure over comfort. If you’ve been waiting for permission, waiting for the perfect job, or trying to keep everyone else comfortable with your choices, this is your nudge to trust your gut and build your path on purpose. Subscribe, share this with a coach who needs it, and leave a review with the boldest “unreasonable” step you’re considering. Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    How to Break Through as a Coach (Without a Playing Career)

  2. 2d ago

    How a maths teacher became a world class coach | Noel McNamara

    Winning a major trophy is supposed to be the moment, but Noel McNamara doesn’t romanticize it. He explains why a title can feel like relief for ten minutes, and why the harder, more meaningful work starts immediately after: rebuilding energy, sharpening clarity, and chasing improvement in a world where success keeps moving further away the moment you get close. If you coach rugby, lead a team, or care about high-performance culture, this is a grounded look at what it takes to stay ahead without burning out.  We get practical about coaching leadership and player ownership. Noel shares how the best coaches and best players “work it out together,” why collaboration still requires real accountability, and how a team culture breaks when feedback only travels one direction. We also dig into the language of coaching: simple cues, clear principles, and creating learning environments that force problem-solving instead of passive listening. One story captures it perfectly: showing up with 21 slides, being told to bring three, and realizing connection beats information every time.  The conversation also goes deeper than tactics. Noel talks about regrounding, staying connected to home, and why fun matters even in elite professional rugby. We explore development metrics that actually last, like whether young athletes still want to play after a season with you, plus the discipline of instant feedback that helps people change behavior now, not next week.  If you enjoy honest coaching stories and specific leadership tools you can use immediately, subscribe, share this with a coach or manager who needs it, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway. What’s the one habit you’d change to help your team get better tomorrow? Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide) https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    How a maths teacher became a world class coach | Noel McNamara

  3. Jul 12

    What 23 Years at Leicester Taught Me About Leadership | Geordan Murphy

    Some teams win because they have better players. Leicester Tigers, at their best, won because they had a culture that could survive anything, including brutal training, relentless internal competition, and the pressure of living up to an identity everyone could see from the stands. We sit down with Geordan Murphy, Leicester player, captain, coach, and senior leader across 23 years at the club. Geordan  tells the story of arriving from Ireland on what was supposed to be a three week trial, then being thrown straight into first team training with Lions and internationals. We dig into what made that era so formidable: standards that never blinked, competitiveness that stayed on the field, and the idea that you can earn your place by being different, not just bigger. Geordan  also shares how he used creativity, skill work, and rugby IQ as his edge in a world that worshiped strength. From there we get into the nuts and bolts of coaching culture and leadership: why “the behaviors you accept” is the real definition of culture, how recruitment decisions either protect the environment or slowly poison it, and why a clear vision of how you play is inseparable from identity. Jordan opens up about the hardest stretch of his career, taking over under fire, navigating the pandemic, feeling the loneliness of head coaching, and the sting of being let go after two decades with little closure. If you lead people, this conversation will make you think about performance, endings, and what it takes to reach out before the pressure cooker changes who you are. If this resonated, subscribe, share it with a coach or leader who needs it, and leave a review so more people can find Coaching Culture. Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide) https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    What 23 Years at Leicester Taught Me About Leadership | Geordan Murphy

  4. Jul 8

    How to Travel as a Coach and Return as a Leader.

    Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    How to Travel as a Coach and Return as a Leader.

  5. Jul 5

    THE NEW MASCULINITY OF COACHING Craig White

    Most teams don’t lose because they lack information. They lose because pressure hijacks attention, connection, and decision making. Craig White joins us to unpack a simple truth that too many coaches miss: your team feels your nervous system before they hear your message, and what you model becomes the culture. We dig into conscious leadership and the difference between regulated and dysregulated coaching. Craig breaks down the “to me, by me, through me, as me” framework, why victim language spreads fast in staff rooms, and how a grounded coach can deliver hard feedback without becoming unsafe. We also talk brotherhood and connection as the foundation for high performance, not a soft extra. When people feel safe, they challenge each other, learn faster, and play freer. From there we take it off the field. Many high achievers are visible at home but not present, chasing results because they think validation must be earned. Craig shares how to train presence like a skill, build relational fitness, set boundaries that protect family time, and use master regulators like sleep and nature to reset the nervous system. We finish with attention and intention, and why focused awareness changes outcomes in the gym, rehab, and leadership itself. If you want practical tools for coaching culture, emotional safety, and leadership under pressure, listen through and share this with a coach who needs it. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: where do you most want to be more present this week? Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide) https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    THE NEW MASCULINITY OF COACHING Craig White

  6. Jul 1

    The Rugby Coaching Tour Every Coach Should Experience

    Japan has a way of exposing your coaching habits in seconds. The standards feel sharper, the respect is unmistakable, and the smallest details suddenly matter more than your favorite playbook. We’re joined by Matt Cobain to unpack why the Elite Coaches Tour of Japan is built to accelerate rugby coaching development through immersion, not theory. We dig into what coaches actually gain from stepping into Japan rugby culture: learning to lead in a different context, seeing how relationships get built before tactics, and observing environments where discipline and preparation are baked into daily life. Matt shares what changed for him while coaching in Japan, especially how working through an interpreter forces you to communicate with clarity, ditch the fluff, and deliver feedback that lands. We also talk about the real “gold” of coach education: the conversations around sessions, the debates on bus rides, and the insights you only get when you sit with other coaches and compare what you’re seeing. We cover the full rugby pathway you’ll encounter on tour, from high school and the massive university system that acts like an academy, all the way to professional clubs packed with world-class talent. Just as important, we get honest about coaching as a people business: networking, mentorship, and why the job can feel lonely without a trusted group around you. Expect practical takeaways on leadership, team culture, and building a reflective habit that asks, “Why do I do it this way?” If you want your next leap as a coach to be real and measurable, listen, share this with a coach who should be in the room, then subscribe and leave a review so more coaches can find the show. Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide) https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    The Rugby Coaching Tour Every Coach Should Experience

  7. Jun 28

    How the Hurricanes Value Culture. Tom Kindley

    A 60-5 final score makes headlines, but the real story is what has to be true inside a team for that kind of performance to show up when it matters most. We’re joined by Tom Kinley, General Manager of the Hurricanes, to break down the culture systems and leadership habits that turn a talented roster into a connected, resilient, high-performing group. We dig into how Tom defines team culture as shared patterns of thinking and behavior, and why the “intangible” edge is often the difference between evenly matched sides. Tom shares the Hurricanes’ everyday standards that build belonging, including the simple practice of greeting every person in an environment of roughly 150 staff and players, plus the deliberate way leaders create accountability without turning everything into mandates. From there, we get practical about high performance: planning the week, building trust fast in a new role, and aligning everyone around the Hurricanes vision to “unite and excite” while living an “us vs us” mindset. We also talk talent development, hiring for character fit, creating optimism and license to play, and why widening the lens matters, including learning from experts outside rugby to improve communication and bring the unspoken to the surface. If you care about coaching culture, leadership, organizational culture, and building teams that perform under pressure, this one is packed with usable ideas. Subscribe, share it with a coach or leader you respect, and leave a review with the one culture habit you want to try next. Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Buy your set of "How to be a great Coach" By Ben Herring books here (amazon worldwide) https://www.amazon.com.au/s?k=ben+herring&crid=1R6QYBT8QVPS1&sprefix=ben+herring%2Caps%2C221&ref=nb_sb_noss_1 Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    How the Hurricanes Value Culture. Tom Kindley

  8. Jun 24

    The Power of In-Person Conversations

    Getting selection wrong isn’t only about who you pick. It’s about how you tell people. We dig into one of the most uncomfortable parts of coaching: delivering news that changes an athlete’s week, their confidence, and sometimes their future. Whether you coach school teams, club sports, or high-performance environments, we make the case that face-to-face communication still beats texts, calls, and “finding out in the meeting” because humans are wired for connection, tone, and intent. We break down the moments that matter most, especially when a player is moving down the lineup. Our simple rule: talk to them every time and do it before the team is announced. We unpack why public blindsiding is so damaging, how psychological safety shows up in a two-minute chat, and how small, respectful conversations create long-term trust. We also share a framing tool that keeps the conversation grounded: explain selection as your opinion and your responsibility, not as a so-called objective truth that invites debate. We also zoom out to stakeholder communication. Promoted players deserve in-person praise because those are relationship-building moments that stick for years, and parents often need context too. If your rationale is sound, transparent conversations tend to go better than the stories people invent in the silence. If this helped you, subscribe, share it with a coach, and leave a review. What’s the best way you’ve ever received tough feedback? Send us Fan Mail For all your rugby and sports gear needs Check out Silverfern here: https://silverfernsport.com/?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=podcast&utm_campaign=coaching-culture Contact Ben direct: Ben@coachingculture.com.au Support the show Subscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.

    The Power of In-Person Conversations
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
10 Ratings

About

Coaching Culture with Ben Herring is your weekly deep-dive into the often-overlooked “softer skills” of coaching—cultural innovation, communication, empathy, leadership, dealing with stress, and motivation. Each episode features candid conversations with the world’s top international rugby coaches, who share the personal stories and intangible insights behind their winning cultures, and too their biggest failures and learnings from them. This is where X’s and O’s meet heart and soul, empowering coaches at every level to foster authentic connections, inspire their teams, and elevate their own coaching craft. If you believe that the real gold in rugby lies beyond the scoreboard, Coaching Culture is the podcast for you.

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