"I was fortunate to win a place on a Mitsubishi Master Coach the Coach session run by Mitsubishi Motors combined with age related coaches from the England training camp at Penny Hill Park the home of the England rugby squad. The day started with a morning welcome by the Mitsubishi team then we were directed on to the training park led by England under 18 coach John Fletcher. The focus of the session was space and how to attack it. It was a revelation to me to discover the method that "Fletch" was using to witness first hand the methods used were the self same we use back at the club, Lots of Q n A, direct questioning to eventually get the answer required from the player.
Afternoon came where we had the honour of meeting Eddie Jones, Joe was asked if he would like a run out with the lads that had come from a local college under the leadership of Eddie Jones. The focus was "off the ball" direct training of what is expected from the player when they were off the ball. His methods were to walk up and down the park not giving the lads a break and as Eddie says "coaching off the hoof" he wanted players to play for 80 minutes so they trained for 80 minutes, non stop. Eddie also proceeded to explain his ethos around rugby, it is an evasive game to promote quick play, if you got caught move the ball as quick as you can (for example "Pop up Pass") to get it away from contact, " I can never understand you British wanting to run into contact "was a statement Eddie used.
Joe and I also had an added treat in witnessing Mike Brown been put through his paces by his personal trainer up in the gym.
At the end of the day I was asked what I was going to take away from the days experience? My answer was the knowledge that the coaches at Selby RUFC are doing the job right, it was refreshing to know that the methods we use in our training sessions are the same used at the elite end of the rugby scale.
Thoroughly enjoyed the experience a day both Joe and I never forget. "

Well done Ian and Joe for winning such a great day out and reassuring for us all that the coaching plans and methods we are trying to implement through the youth section are inline with those right at the top of the game!