Pacey Performance Podcast

This week’s Pacey Performance Podcast guest is Simon Thomas. Simon spent five seasons as the Head of Physical Performance for the Crusaders in Super Rugby, and has now moved on to Major League Rugby side Austin Gilgronis in the United States. Following four titles in New Zealand with Crusaders, Simon decided to take on a new challenge in Texas, joining up with head coach Sam Harris whom he had previously worked with at Honda Heat in Japan. Simon is here to talk about the growth of Major League Rugby, the cultural differences between the sport in traditional rugby nations and the USA, and how there are 300 million rugby fans who just don’t know it yet. In addition to life in Texas at a fledgling side, Simon also discusses how to set up a successful preseason training camp, including the values to establish, the key objectives, and reflection on the group and their achievements the previous year. One of these training camps proved controversial as the team trained with the US Navy SEALs – as observers on socia