Brian Ashton

Brian's playing career included rugby clubs such as Fylde, Orrell as well as European clubs Montferrand and Rome. He was part of the England squad that toured Australia in 1975 before becoming a teacher and rugby master at Stoneyhurst School. Brian coached England A on the tour 1985 tour of New Zealand and in 1989 became the backs coach job at Bath Rugby Club helping establish Bath Rugby Club as the dominant team in English rugby for a decade, taking over as head coach in 1994. Brian had a spell as National Coach of Ireland from 1997 to 1998. Brian was Sir Clive Woodward’s assistant with the England rugby team between 1998 to 2002, before becoming the RFU's National Academy Manager between 2002 to 2005 launching England Rugby's National Academy system. Brian was appointed England Rugby head coach in 2006 and led the side to the 2007 Rugby World Final and was appointed an (MBE) in the 2008 New Years Honours. Following England, Brian was appointed director of coaching at the University of Bath and in 2010 he returned to his old club Fylde as a coaching consultant to the senior squad , where the club won National League 2 North in 2010/2011 season. In more recent years Brian has worked as a mentor to many professional and aspiring coaches across many sports, as well as a consultant coach delivering coaching sessions and working with national governing bodies and the world renowned IRANZ coaching organisation in New Zealand.

 

Topics covered: Brian’s background & influences; the effect of others on his coaching; the importance of communication, having a purpose, having a dream, relationships & emotional engagement; the development of his coaching philosophy, environment, innovation; being adaptable and overcoming challenges; situational coaching, courage & self belief; coach development, coach education, IRANZ; player development & being a mentor; his coaching career: EnglandRugby, IrelandRugby, Bath Rugby, Fylde Rugby, Kings School, Bruton, the 2007 RWC; opinion on laws of the game; player pathway; and honest lessons learned with lots of reflection on how to be your authentic self.