{"id":2171,"date":"2020-03-12T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-03-12T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leadersinsport.com\/performance-institute\/podcasts\/leaders-performance-podcast-andy-friend\/"},"modified":"2025-12-15T05:16:41","modified_gmt":"2025-12-15T05:16:41","slug":"leaders-performance-podcast-andy-friend","status":"publish","type":"podcast","link":"https:\/\/leadersinsport.com\/performance-institute\/podcasts\/leaders-performance-podcast-andy-friend\/","title":{"rendered":"Leaders Performance Podcast: Andy Friend"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\n
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\n Mar 12, 2020 <\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>Podcasts<\/a>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Leaders Performance Podcast: Andy Friend<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n \n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Category<\/div>\n Coaching & Development<\/a>, Leadership & Culture<\/a> <\/div>\n
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Share<\/div>\n Facebook<\/a>\n Twitter<\/a>\n Email<\/a>\n Copy Link<\/a>\n
https:\/\/leadersinsport.com\/performance-institute\/podcasts\/leaders-performance-podcast-andy-friend\/<\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n <\/section>\n\n\n
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The Leaders Performance Podcast returns with Andy Friend, the Head Coach of Connacht Rugby.<\/h4>\n
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By John Portch<\/h6>\n

The Canberra native has been coaching for more than two decades across three continents, building the sort of resume that enticed Connacht to charge Friend with sustaining their recent success.<\/p>\n

Having been forced to retire prematurely due to injury, Friend stayed in the sport as a skills coach and assistant, first with the Waratahs, then with the Brumbies, where he developed a relationship with Head Coach Eddie Jones. He went with Jones to the Australia men’s national team before striking out as a head coach in his own right at Harlequins in 2005.<\/p>\n

Having been forced to retire from the game, Friend went into coaching as a skills coach and assistant, first with the Waratahs, then with the Brumbies, where he developed a relationship with Head Coach Eddie Jones. He went with Jones to the Australia men’s national team before striking out as a head coach in his own right at Harlequins in 2005.<\/p>\n

He returned to the Brumbies as Head Coach in 2008 before spending four years coaching in Japan at the Canon Eagles [2012-14] and Suntory Sungoliath [2014-16].<\/p>\n

Friend then coached for two years with the Australia men’s sevens before Connacht came calling in 2018 and handed him a remit of sustain the success that led them to the top table of European rugby.<\/p>\n

On the conversational agenda were:<\/p>\n

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  • His transition from being a skills coach\/assistant to a head coach [5.35];<\/li>\n
  • Providing Development opportunities for his staff [14:00];<\/li>\n
  • Optimising learning environments [20:10];<\/li>\n
  • The balance between data and coaching intuition in rugby union [28:30];<\/li>\n
  • His biggest lessons at Connacht so far [29:55].<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n