008: Ben Ryan on Leadership in Chaos - Transforming Fiji Rugby and Football Beyond

A Load of BS on Sport: The Behavioural Science Podcast with Daniel Ross and Dan Biggar

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

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• Podcast music: Tamsin Waley-Cohen's Mendelssohn's violin concerto