From Pro Rugby to 700K Followers: How Ben John Built The Rugby Trainer

From the Pro12 to personal training to becoming one of the biggest rugby creators online — this is the story of how Ben John turned retirement into a movement.In this episode of The Sound Important Podcast, Sam Portland sits down with Ben John (The Rugby Trainer) to break down how he went from professional rugby player to building one of the most influential skill coaching brands in sport.Ben shares the mindset, habits, and creativity behind building an online following of over 700,000, coaching players worldwide, and creating content that inspires the next generation of athletes.💡 You’ll learn:The realities of pro rugby life and player burnoutWhy “weights don’t influence the scoreboard”How game IQ and skill play matter more than raw dataThe injuries that forced early retirement — and what came nextHow The Rugby Trainer started in lockdown and became a global brandThe three golden rules for making content as a coachHow to build structure, habits, and a brand that lasts🔥 This episode blends elite performance, coaching philosophy, and content strategy — a must-listen for every S&C coach, skills coach, and creator in sport.🎧 Listen on Spotify | Apple | YouTube📲 Follow Sam: @coach_samportland🏉 Follow Ben: @therugbytrainer⏱️ 3. Timestamps00:00 – Welcome to The Sound Important Podcast00:45 – Introducing Ben John: pro rugby to content creator02:00 – The reality of strength & conditioning in pro rugby04:00 – Speed IQ vs Game IQ05:00 – Growing into your body and confidence06:30 – Overtraining, obsession, and injury cycles09:30 – Lessons from senior pros and recovery habits10:30 – Volume tolerance and athlete archetypes12:00 – Animal archetypes: Wolves, Collies, and Giraffes16:00 – Skill development through play and 1v1s17:00 – The concussion that ended a career — and started a business18:00 – The birth of The Rugby Trainer during lockdown19:00 – From one kid in the park to global influence24:00 – The hard truth of S&C career ceilings26:00 – Hiring structure, working with mentors29:00 – Building a 700K following across multiple platforms33:00 – The three content rules: Entertain, Educate, Inspire35:00 – Simple content that helps one person40:00 – The Rugby Trainer Academy and 10-minute skill sessions42:00 – How consistency compounds44:00 – Collaboration over competition in sport47:00 – The simplest details often make the biggest difference49:00 – Final thoughts: drop the ego and just start