Bench Warmers, Buy-In, and Being Different, with Ben Herring

Send us Fan MailIn 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 resilienceCoaching culture lessons from JapanThe role of repetition and language in learningWhy sometimes it's OK to say, "Stuff the structure"Creating a unique team identity around stoicismHow to balance team-first mentality with individual strengthsHere's a link to his show:https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/coaching-culture-with-ben-herring/id1788635110To find out more about this podcast and many others, go to Rugby Coach WeeklyTo find out more about our Partner Club offerCLICK HEREAlso, 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!