Work With Me
Independent Thinking. Better Decisions. Genuine Improvement.
Improving rugby performance isn't always a matter of doing more, working harder or introducing new coaching methods. Sometimes the greatest opportunities come from questioning what we're already doing, challenging our assumptions and developing a better understanding of what actually drives improvement.
Through Rugbyology, I work with coaches, leaders and organisations who want to better understand the challenges they face, make more informed decisions and create the conditions for meaningful, lasting improvement.
My work focuses on coaching, learning, development and the systems that shape performance. Rather than prescribing technical or tactical solutions, I help people examine how they approach problems, develop their practices, structure their program and evaluate improvement.
Whether you're looking for a second opinion on a particular challenge, an ongoing advisory relationship or an independent perspective on an entire program, there are several ways we can work together.
Ways to Work Together
Individual Advisory
Independent advice and a sounding board for coaches seeking new perspectives, working through challenges or making important decisions. Available as one-off consultations, focused engagements or ongoing seasonal advisory.
Organisational Advisory
Strategic thinking, independent analysis and advisory support for schools, clubs, academies and rugby organisations. From preseason planning and program reviews to coach recruitment and longer-term strategic development.
Workshops & Education
Bespoke workshops, presentations and professional development designed around the needs of your coaches or organisation, drawing on Rugbyology's research, ideas and frameworks.
Coach Development
Personalised development opportunities for coaches looking to deepen their understanding, strengthen their judgment and become more capable, independent practitioners.
The sections below explain how I work and what each of these options involves.
How I Work
I Advise, Not Operate.
My role is not to take over your coaching, manage your program or tell you exactly what to do.
I provide an independent perspective, help examine problems, challenge assumptions and support better decision-making. The aim is to develop your understanding and capability, rather than create an ongoing dependence on external advice.
This is also why my work is not centred on technical or tactical rugby instruction. While these aspects of the game may form part of a discussion, my expertise lies in understanding coaching, learning, development and the wider systems that influence performance.
Improvement is the objective, not adherence to a particular method.
I don't believe every problem has a predetermined solution, or that every coach or organisation needs the same approach. Different circumstances create different challenges, and meaningful advice needs to reflect those differences.
An engagement begins by understanding your situation, what you're trying to achieve and whether I can make a useful contribution.
Not every enquiry will be the right fit, and that's important. My interest is in working with people and organisations where I believe I can provide genuine value.
Accessibility & Opportunity
I believe thoughtful, independent advice should be accessible to coaches and organisations across all levels of rugby, not just those operating in professional environments or with substantial resources.
While I maintain standard professional fees, I recognise that circumstances vary considerably. Where possible, I'm happy to consider adjusted pricing for grassroots, volunteer and emerging coaches, as well as organisations working with limited resources.
If cost is a barrier, please mention this in your initial enquiry. Reduced-fee arrangements are considered individually and remain subject to availability.
Individual Advisory
A Second Opinion. A Sounding Board. A Different Perspective.
Coaching can be an isolating profession, particularly when you're responsible for making decisions without having someone independent to discuss them with.
Sometimes you need help working through a particular problem. Sometimes you want someone to question your thinking, explore alternative perspectives or help you make sense of what's happening in your coaching environment.
Individual advisory offers an opportunity to step outside the immediate demands of coaching and examine those questions more carefully.
One-Off Consultation
A single conversation focused on a particular challenge, question or decision.
Perhaps you're uncertain about an aspect of your coaching, struggling to understand why something isn't working, or simply want an independent perspective before making an important decision.
A one-off consultation provides an opportunity to explore the issue, examine your assumptions and identify possible ways forward, without committing to an ongoing relationship.
Fee: A$200 for a 60-minute online consultation.
Availability: Consultations can usually be arranged within a few days, subject to availability.
If we subsequently agree to a longer advisory engagement, the initial consultation may count as the first session of that engagement, with its fee credited towards the agreed package.
Focused Advisory
Some challenges benefit from more than one conversation.
Focused advisory involves a short series of discussions over an agreed period, allowing us to investigate a problem, explore possible approaches and reflect on what happens as you put your decisions into practice.
Rather than providing a predetermined program, the discussions are shaped by your situation and the challenges you're working through.
A typical engagement involves four individual sessions over four to six weeks, although the structure can be adjusted to your circumstances.
Indicative fee: From A$700 for four individual sessions.
Availability: Engagements arranged individually, subject to availability.
Seasonal & Ongoing Advisory
For coaches who would benefit from a regular independent sounding board, I also offer longer-term advisory relationships.
These can be tailored to the length and demands of your rugby season, with weekly, fortnightly or less frequent conversations as appropriate.
For example, you might benefit from more regular discussions during preseason, periodic support throughout the competition and occasional reflection or planning outside the season.
The duration, frequency and number of sessions are agreed in advance, reflecting your coaching responsibilities, calendar and particular requirements.
The intention is to provide continuity and perspective without becoming directly involved in running your program.
Fees: Individually quoted according to the duration and structure of the engagement.
Availability: A limited number of ongoing advisory engagements may be accommodated at any one time.
All individual advisory arrangements are tailored to your needs, circumstances and coaching calendar.
Organisational Advisory
Better Thinking. Better Systems. Better Decisions.
Schools, clubs, academies and rugby organisations face challenges that extend beyond the performance of individual coaches or teams.
Development pathways, program structures, organisational objectives, coaching environments and leadership decisions all interact to influence what happens on the field.
Sometimes the most useful contribution is an independent perspective from outside the organisation: someone who can ask different questions, challenge established assumptions and help identify opportunities that might otherwise be overlooked.
Rugbyology provides organisational advisory across several areas.
Strategic Planning & Think Tanks
Independent participation in strategic discussions, preseason planning sessions, leadership meetings and organisational reviews.
These engagements provide an opportunity to critically examine your organisation's direction, challenge assumptions, explore potential improvements and make more informed decisions before committing to a course of action.
They can range from a single facilitated discussion to a more substantial planning engagement.
Program Reviews & Improvement Analysis
An independent examination of your coaching, development or performance program.
This might involve exploring why expected improvements aren't occurring, evaluating the alignment between program objectives and coaching practices, or investigating whether existing systems are producing the outcomes they're intended to achieve.
The scope can range from a focused investigation of a specific question to a broader review of program architecture and development systems.
The objective is to provide useful findings and recommendations that support the organisation's own decision-making.
Coach Recruitment & Appointment Advisory
Appointing a coach can be one of the most consequential decisions a rugby organisation makes.
Rugbyology can provide independent assistance in defining the requirements of a coaching position, evaluating candidates and considering how a prospective appointment aligns with the organisation's philosophy, environment and development objectives.
My contribution focuses particularly on coaching understanding, judgment, learning, development and organisational fit, rather than specialist technical or tactical assessment.
The organisation retains responsibility for its recruitment process and final appointment decision.
Ongoing Strategic Advisory
For organisations seeking a continuing independent perspective, advisory arrangements can be structured around regular discussions, periodic reviews and important decisions throughout a season or development cycle.
The frequency and scope are agreed according to the organisation's needs, without requiring Rugbyology to assume responsibility for day-to-day operations.
Engagements & Fees
Organisational advisory is tailored to the specific needs, challenges and objectives of each organisation.
Engagements may involve a single strategic discussion, a defined project or an ongoing advisory relationship. Fees and availability are determined by the nature and scope of the work.
Workshops & Education
Ideas That Challenge Thinking and Inform Practice.
Rugbyology workshops and educational engagements explore the ideas, principles and systems that underpin effective coaching and genuine improvement.
Rather than delivering generic instructional sessions, my preference is to work with coaches and organisations to understand their particular challenges and develop learning experiences that are relevant to their circumstances.
Possible areas of exploration include:
- Coaching judgment, sensemaking and decision-making.
- Practice design, representative learning environments and the RACS framework.
- Understanding and evaluating genuine improvement.
- Systems thinking and program architecture.
- Coaching philosophy, development and organisational alignment.
- The relationship between coaching processes and performance outcomes.
Workshops can take the form of facilitated discussions, interactive working sessions, presentations or more substantial professional development programs.
They can be delivered online or in person, with content and format adapted to the audience and objectives.
The goal is not simply to introduce new ideas, but to help participants develop a deeper understanding of their own coaching and improvement challenges.
Engagements & Fees
Workshops and educational engagements are developed around the needs of the audience and organisation.
Duration, content, delivery format and fees are agreed individually. Online and in-person arrangements are available, subject to scheduling and travel requirements.
Coach Development
From Knowledge to Judgment.
Knowing rugby and understanding how to coach it are not necessarily the same thing.
Many coaches enter the profession with considerable playing experience and knowledge of the game, but fewer opportunities to develop their understanding of learning, practice design, decision-making and the broader responsibilities of coaching.
Rugbyology's coach development opportunities focus on helping coaches become more thoughtful, capable and independent practitioners.
Emerging Coaches Program
A small, selective mentoring opportunity for aspiring, new and developing coaches who are interested in going beyond technical knowledge and developing a deeper understanding of coaching.
Rather than following a rigid curriculum, the program centres on individual discussions, reflection on real coaching experiences and the development of sound coaching judgment.
The relationship is designed to support coaches as they encounter new situations, question their assumptions and develop their own approach to coaching.
Places are deliberately limited to allow for meaningful individual engagement.
The duration and structure of each engagement may vary depending on the coach's experience, circumstances and development needs.
Other personalised coach development arrangements may also be considered where appropriate.
Availability: Limited places. Enquiries and expressions of interest are welcome.
Work With Rugbyology
Let's Start A Conversation
If you're facing a coaching challenge, considering an important organisational decision or looking for an independent perspective on improvement, I'd be interested in hearing about it.
The first step is to simply get in touch.
Tell me a little about yourself or your organisation, the situation you're facing and what you're hoping to achieve.
I'll consider whether Rugbyology is likely to be a good fit and, if so, we can discuss the most appropriate way to work together.
There is no expectation that every enquiry will lead to an engagement. The important thing is establishing whether I can make a useful contribution.
Enquire About Working Together