In this episode of A Load of BS on Sport, Dan and Dan sit down with Ben Ryan, the Performance Director at Brentford FC and former coach of Fiji's Olympic-winning Rugby Sevens team. Ben shares his remarkable journey from the world of English rugby to leading Fiji to gold at the Rio Olympics, and now shaping performance at Brentford. He talks about the importance of leadership, discipline, and cultural sensitivity in creating high-performing teams, as well as the balance between structure and freedom that allows athletes to thrive. Tune in for insights on coaching, team dynamics, and what it truly takes to build a winning culture across sports.
Show Notes:
Ben discusses his journey from rugby coach to Performance Director at Brentford FC
Reflections on leading Fiji to Olympic gold and the lessons learned in team culture
Ben shares how discipline and structure helped transform the Fijian team’s performance
The importance of balancing freedom with high standards in elite sport
Insights into the challenges of transitioning from rugby to football leadership
Ben talks about the power of alignment and communication in building successful teams
The role of player care and cultural sensitivity in managing a diverse squad
Ben critiques the obsession with marginal gains and emphasises the importance of solid foundations
A little teaser…
Here, Ben talks about the unique training habits of the Fijian rugby team
Next week
We are talking to world boxing champion, Carl Frampton. Tune in for an enlightening conversation.
Share the podcast
If you like A Load of BS on Sport, please share it with friends. We appreciate it hugely!
Till next time,
Dan and Dan
Share this post