The Rugby Paper

National Leagues should go back to old tackle laws

Former Richmond director of rugby Steve Hill puts the questions to Jack Heald, below, the director of rugby at Barnes RFC

Why did you get into coaching rugby and how did you arrive at your current position?

In 2007/08 I was lucky enough to sail around the world. During this time I met my wife and moved to London. The decision I had to make was to either sail as a profession or try and make my way as a rugby coach. I chose the latter – although I do wonder why sometimes…

What is your profession outside of coaching rugby?

Rugby is full time for me. I run a small coaching business where we supply coaches into clubs and school to help them with their coaching provision and player/coach developmen­t. Along with family commitment­s I’ve not much time for another job.

How would you describe your style of coaching?

Authentic – as I’ve grown over the years my experience­s have changed me. I feel delivering in a style that comes naturally to me is something I can be consistent with and I hope the players I work with see that within my coaching.

What do you find the most challengin­g aspects of coaching?

The players – trying to maintain a happy squad where all players feel valued and also get the playing opportunit­ies they think they deserve. This is not an easy balance.

How do you measure your success as a coach?

Retention year on year of my squad. I seek to ensure the players want to come to train and play week in week out and fundamenta­lly have fun. It should not feel like work to them.

The winters are very long, dark and wet.

Has anyone been a mentor on your coaching journey?

Someone who helped me was David Williams who I spent a year or two working very closely with. His detail and delivery to players was something I always admired. Other mentors I enjoy talking with would include: Tony Robinson, Neal Hatley, Mark Matzopoulo­s and my club president Michael Whitfield. These are all people I can turn to when I need to sound out ideas/problems.

What would you count as your most significan­t coaching achievemen­t?

Currently my role at Barnes RFC is hugely satisfying. We’ve grown from being a yoyo National 2/3 club to now being a sustainabl­e National 2 outfit who compete at the top of table. Given our resources I am very proud of where we currently are.

Name a player who you have really enjoyed coaching/developing and why?

This would have to be Josh Davies, current club captain at Barnes. He’s someone who’s been with me since 2018 at Barnes and who has been through a lot. Now a dad, a leader and a great all round human.

What is your process for evaluating and providing feedback to your players?

Being as honest as possible. I let players know where they stand in the pecking orderwhich isn’t something they generally like hearing – but it allows them to know where they stand. I then tell them the two or three points of their game they have to develop to move up that order.

Of late there have been a lot of negative comments around rugby. What do you see as the positives? Personally I love the game.

Everyone has a voice now through social media which isn’t always healthy. The players that play the game, turn up week in week out for their clubs regardless of age or ability know the positives far outweigh any negatives.

What more could the RFU do to develop coaches working at National League level?

I don’t really see any help from the RFU with regards to developing coaches at this level once they have qualified at Level 4. It would be good to get exposure to some CPD within the full time profession­al game or somehow connect with the elite England coaches to share and engage in conversati­ons around parts of technical developmen­ts that they see at their level.

As a coach what two laws or aspects of the game would you change?

Bring back the old tackle height law, the physicalit­y of the game is part and parcel of it. At National 2 it has been a struggle to see consistenc­y. Secondly if a team receives a yellow card it should still have to pack down eight men at a scrum.

What two words would your players use to describe you as a coach?

I would hope ‘passionate’ and ‘loyal’ – I would like to think the players appreciate the levels of effort I go through to ensure they have the best possible environmen­t to come into when training and playing.

What advice would you give to anyone considerin­g or just starting to get involved in coaching rugby?

Do not underestim­ate the time that is needed. But at the same time remember the more you put in the more you get back.