Periodisation across different parts of the season in rugby union with Simon Thomas (Head of Physical Performance at Crusaders)

Simon comes onto the podcast on the back of a Super Rugby Championship last season and a tour with the Maori All Blacks. Simon is the Head of Physical Performance at Crusaders in New Zealand and brings a wealth of experience & knowledge of working in Rugby Union. In this podcast with Simon, I think he gives the most coherent and detailed answer I have had when it comes to asking the question about culture, what it is and how it's developed. As well as that, we dive into the day to day workings at Crusaders as well as building an environment where competition is relished, not shied away from.

In this episode, you will learn -

• Who is Simon Thomas (background, education and current role)
• Periodisation of different qualities and how it differs pre, in and offseason
  • Conditioning
  • Strength & power
  • Speed
• Training load monitoring
  • Managing data
  • Creating a competitive environment to increase training intensity
  • How things change with scheduling issues

Simon can be found on Twitter @stsandc

This episode of the Pacey Performance Podcast is sponsored by Vald Performance, the team behind the NordBord and the new Groinbar, a hip and groin strength measuring solution. They can be found at valdperformance.com and you can get more information on the groin bar at groinbar.com and on Twitter @groinbar.

This episode is sponsored by BLK BOX, leaders in performance training equipment & facility design. BLK BOX manufactures and distributes a full range of strength training equipment across Europe from their Headquarters in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

This episode is also sponsored by Forcedecks. If you want to know more about ForceDecks, listen to episode #139 of the Pacey Performance Podcast with co-founder, Dr. Daniel Cohen.

Keep up to date with everything that is going on with the podcast by following on Twitter @strengthofsci or visiting strengthofscience.com/podcast.

Enjoy

PP