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 MailHurry Book Japan Coaches tour here https://gullivers.com.au/product/elite-coaches-tour-of-japan/For all your sports equipment for your club book here https://silverfernsport.com.au/?srsltid=AfmBOor-fPBP0LQQzULWdxM0rE-B4bqPrsoa6j9zROuksE21oxHu8ZA6 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: [email protected] the showSubscribe and Share, it makes a massive difference! Appreciation in advance.