The Coach G Show

The Top 14 is the most intense domestic rugby competition in the world — and with five games left, the race for playoffs, Champions Cup qualification, and survival is wide open.

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Coach G sits down with French rugby agent Damien Dussaut to pull back the curtain on what's really happening inside the Top 14: the staff budgets clubs don't want you to see, the unconventional player journeys that challenge everything we think about recruitment, and why some clubs thrive on half the budget of their rivals.
What you'll learn:
— Why Toulouse's 60-player depth makes them nearly impossible to derail— The real numbers: staff and player salary breakdowns across Top 14 clubs— Aaron Grandidier's path from self-filmed highlight reels to Olympic gold— How Levani Botia went from walking 30km to training in Fiji to becoming a La Rochelle icon— What Damien means when he says "players are Ferraris — staff are the mechanics"— The recruitment trap most clubs fall into and why the best signing isn't always the best CV— Why mental performance coaching is the most underexplored edge in professional rugby

00:00 - The Recruitment Lie Clubs Tell Themselves
00:59 - Welcome & Introduction
02:29 - Toulouse's Bounce Back & The Benjamin Bertrand Story
09:18 - Inside the Toulouse Machine: Depth, Culture & Youth
11:32 - Top 14 Standings & The Playoff Race
13:44 - Managing Two Competitions: Squad Rotation & Injuries
15:33 - Champions Cup Money & The Pau Model
18:08 - Stade Français: From Chaos to Contenders
23:54 - Why Foreign Coaches Struggle in France
26:27 - Aaron Grandidier: Back Yourself & Think Outside the Box
30:30 - The Recruitment Trap Most Clubs Fall Into
34:41 - Levani Botia: A Living Legend Re-Signs at La Rochelle
44:54 - Players Are Ferraris — Staff Are the Mechanics
49:38 - The Mental Game: Rugby's Final Frontier
Whether you're a player trying to get noticed, a coach building a programme, or a fan who wants to understand what happens behind the scenes — this is essential listening.
Listen now. Follow the show. Share it with someone in rugby who needs to hear this.

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The scrum is one of the most contested elements in rugby — and right now, there are serious forces pushing to have it removed from the game entirely.

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This podcast is Sponsored by USN : https://za.usn.global

In this solo episode, Coach G (Gurthro Steenkamp — former Springbok, World Cup winner, two-time European champion as a coach) goes deep on why the scrum matters, what's going wrong at every level, and what players, coaches, and parents need to do about it.
This is one of the most direct, honest conversations about the scrum you'll hear anywhere.
What you'll learn:
Why removing the scrum would damage rugby's identity and inclusivity
The clear difference between dark arts and cheat codes — and why it's a values issue
The four phases of the scrum and what each one demands from players
Practical steps parents can take to help their child become a better scrummager
What the Scrum Dominator Mindset really means — and how it applies beyond rugby
Why referees struggle to police scrums and what needs to change
The FAST method for accelerating learning in sport and life
00:00 – The Forces Trying to Remove the Scrum
00:45 – What Is the Scrum Dominator Mindset?
04:20 – Bullet Journaling, Reading & Building Player Habits
06:23 – USN Sponsor Message
06:49 – How the Scrum Actually Works (Explained Simply)
09:00 – The Scrum & Inclusivity: Where Do the Big Players Go?
11:20 – Dark Arts vs Cheat Codes: The Real Difference
15:55 – The Four Phases of the Scrum
18:20 – Player Safety, the Break Foot & Young Players Copying Cheat Codes
21:00 – Who Is Responsible for the Scrum?
24:00 – Practical Advice for Parents: How to Help Your Child
29:45 – Spine in Line, Hip Drive & Home Training Exercises
31:00 – Inside the Scrum Dominator Community (Resources & Courses)
34:26 – What's Coming to the Community
36:45 – The FAST Method: How to Learn & Level Up
38:30 – Closing Thoughts & Thank You

Coach G also shares his personal story — from a self-described chubby, friendless kid who found identity and belonging through the scrum, to one of the most respected forwards coaches in European rugby.
If you coach props, play in the front row, or want to help a young player improve — this episode is essential listening.
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Bordeaux host Toulouse in what could be the most loaded quarter-final in French rugby history. Coach G and agent Damien Dusseau go deep on the game, the politics, and the human stories behind the players.

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What you'll get from this episode:
Full breakdown of UBB vs Stade Toulouse — matchups, tactics, and what to watch
The coaching succession race: Hugo Mola or Yannick Bru for France after Galtier?
Cameron Woki's comeback — how leaving Bordeaux made him a complete player
Teddy Thomas at 32: why the most criticised player in France is now one of the best
The burnout crisis hitting Top 14 coaches — and why French rugby is brutal on managers
Why giving players freedom and joy is the secret weapon of both clubs
The importance of blank space, morning routines, and mental resets for coaches
Two friends with deep rugby knowledge, no filter, and genuine insight into what's happening in France right now.
🎙️ Listen, follow, and share with anyone in rugby.

Chapters:
00:00 The clash of titans begins
01:11 Intro: Bordeaux vs Toulouse + coach burnout
03:40 Why this game is so big in France
05:44 Galthié succession talk: Ugo Mola vs Yannick Bru
09:37 Key matchups and players to watch
16:06 Freedom, expression, and team environment
18:00 Sponsor message: USN
18:29 Player growth: LBB, Woki, Teddy Thomas, Jelonch
27:49 The knockout path after this quarter-final
29:20 Coach burnout in Top 14 rugby
38:49 How coaches can protect their energy and mind
45:45 Damien Dussault + Scrum Dominator Mindset

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Springbok Women star Nadine Roos joins Coach G for a powerful conversation on the real state of women’s rugby in South Africa.

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This episode goes beyond World Cup headlines and social media moments. Nadine opens up about what has changed, what still needs to change, and the personal journey that shaped her into one of the most exciting players in the game.

Inside this episode:

The reality for Springbok Women after the World Cup
Why sponsorship and structure still matter
What South Africa needs to close the gap on the top nations
Why girls’ rugby in schools is such a big issue
How her grandmother helped shape her life
lessons on discipline, adversity, and belief
her message to the next generation of female athletes

Chapters:
00:00 Women’s rugby stigma in South Africa
01:46 Intro: Nadine Roos joins the show
03:34 What changed after the World Cup?
07:23 Recognition and role models
12:46 How South Africa reached the quarter-final
18:05 What South Africa still lacks
28:15 Why girls’ rugby in schools still struggles
35:13 Nadine’s upbringing and her grandmother
43:05 University, bursary, and first rugby income
49:04 Missing parents, gratitude, and support
56:24 Advice for young female athletes
1:00:21 Social media, discipline, and modern pressure
1:06:06 Final thanks

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Listen now, follow the show, and share this episode with someone who cares about rugby, growth, and opportunity.

Why do players train well during the week, then fail to transfer it on Saturday?

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In this episode, Gordon Pretorius joins The Coach G Show to unpack one of the biggest problems in rugby coaching: players getting overloaded with information and not learning well enough under pressure.
Gordon is a coach and university educator based in the Netherlands, and this conversation sits right at the intersection of rugby, learning, performance, and coach development.
You’ll hear:
Why great training does not always lead to great performance
How coaches overload players without realizing it
Why chaos and unpredictability matter in rugby training
How to improve meetings, learning, and retention
What working memory means in a rugby context
How players can better remember roles, calls, and key actions
Smart ways coaches can use AI to improve planning and feedback
This is a practical episode for rugby coaches, players, and anyone trying to build better performance through better learning.
Listen, follow, and share with a coach or player who needs this conversation.