The Team

Dan Cottrell

Editor Better Rugby Coaching

Dan Cottrell has spent most of his adult life collecting and absorbing the most useful rugby coaching secrets he can find.

When not digging out insightful coaching approaches, he's working in the game as a practising RFU Level 3 Coach, a Welsh Rugby Union Course Leader, and skills coach for the Young Ospreys Academy in Swansea.

During Dan's playing career at Bath, he learnt from some of the game's leading coaches including Jack Rowell, before he went on to manage England, Brian Ashton (later the coach for both Ireland and England) and former England boss Andy Robinson who captained the Bath team when Dan played.

To read more about Dan please click here.

Paul Tyler

Rugby Coach Junior  joint editor

Paul Tyler is a Scottish Rugby Union level 3 qualified coach currently coaching at Greenock Wanderers RFC in National division 1. He is also a former SRU rugby development officer and a qualified referee.

Paul played representative rugby in both codes until a serious neck injury ended his playing career at the age of 22.

A strong scientific background influences his coaching and he is always reviewing coaching material from around the world to improve his own coaching.

Mark Calverley

Rugby Coach columnist

Based in New Zealand for the last seven years, Mark is Head of Physical Education at Wanganui Collegiate School. He has coached the school’s 1st XV, and Wanganui District U18s, U20s, and currently the Marist Club men’s senior team (league champions in 2007).

Mark has an RFU Level 3 award, an IRB Level 4 award and has completed the NZRFU Practicum award – the highest coaching award in New Zealand. As a player, he played for England U18s, Warwickshire, Nuneaton, Nottingham and Harlequins. He also represented England Students (as captain) and Great Britain Students at rugby league.

Colin Ireland

Rugby Coach Junior  joint editor

A qualified Physical Education teacher with 16 years' experience working for the Scottish Rugby Union. Colin has a vast and varied experience of coaching and teaching rugby at every level of the game from minis to international squads.

Now self employed as a sports consultant, he still doesn’t have enough time to play golf, but enjoys the annual trip to Spain struggling on the slick greens. A young family keep him busy in an active outdoor life.