Across the week, coaches can take part in four interactive online sessions, each designed to challenge thinking, share practical insight, and support your ongoing growth. They’ll hear from an outstanding group of presenters, gain ideas they can apply immediately, and connect with coaches from across the game.
This programme brings together world leading thinkers and experienced practitioners from rugby and beyond, all united by one goal: supporting better learning, better environments, and better experiences for players.
Schedule
- 23rd February, 2.00-3.30pm – LJ Lewis & Jonathan Pendlebury – ‘Coaching the Breakdown’
- 24th February, 2.30-3.30pm – Doug Lemov – ‘Is the game the best teacher?’
- 25th February, 7.00-8.00pm – Joe Ford – ‘Coaching core skills and decision making to improve attack’
- 26th, TBC - Darren Pearcy – ‘Working with skaters whilst creating a coaching culture’
Meet the presenters
Doug Lemov – Doug Lemov is a renowned American educator, author, and thought leader in the science of learning. He is best known for his influential books Teach Like a Champion (now in its 3.0 edition) and The Coach’s Guide to Teaching, which translate highly effective classroom teaching strategies into practical tools for coaches in sport.
Doug has worked with a wide range of elite sporting organisations, including several NBA franchises, Premier League clubs, and national rugby, ice hockey, and football federations, helping them use cognitive science to accelerate learning and performance. His other books include Practice Perfect and The Teach Like a Champion Guide to the Science of Reading, all focused on improving practice quality and development outcomes.
Jonathan Pendlebury – Jonathan Pendlebury is the England U18 Men’s Head Coach and an experienced RFU pathway coach with a longstanding commitment to youth rugby development. A father and husband, Jonathan has combined professional pathway roles with continued volunteering at grassroots level, including with Hinckley U11s.
His career includes academy coaching and leadership roles with Leeds (Yorkshire) Academy and Wasps, before moving into his current role within the RFU pathway. Passionate about learning and self development, Jonathan holds an undergraduate degree and a Master’s in Sport Coaching from Leeds Beckett University, and is RFU Performance Award qualified.
LJ Lewis – LJ Lewis is an experienced rugby coach currently working within England Rugby and is the England Women’s U20s Head Coach. With over a decade of coaching experience, LJ has worked across grassroots, academy, and national age grade environments within the women’s and girls’ pathway.
She has previously held senior coaching roles within Premiership Women’s Rugby, including with Wasps Women, and is highly regarded for her ability to create learning focused, inclusive, and high performance environments. LJ holds a BSc (Hons) in Sports Development with Coaching from Sheffield Hallam University and is passionate about supporting both player and coach development.
Joe Ford – Joe Ford is a professional rugby coach currently working as an Attack Coach with Sale Sharks. A former Premiership flyhalf, he enjoyed a successful playing career with clubs including Leeds Carnegie, Northampton Saints, Sale Sharks, and Leicester Tigers, before transitioning into fulltime coaching.
After retiring from playing, Joe progressed through coaching roles at Doncaster Knights, initially as Backs Coach before stepping into the Head Coach role. During his time there, he led an attacking focused programme with a strong emphasis on player ownership, clarity in learning, and empowering players to make decisions under pressure.
Joe brings contemporary insight from the professional game, combining lived playing experience with reflective coaching practice, offering valuable learning for coaches working across both development and performance environments.
Darren Pearcy – Darren Pearcy is the Performance Manager and coach at Skateboard GB and brings a strong cross-sport perspective to coaching and athlete development. Drawing on experience from action sports, he offers clear insight into learning, creativity, motivation, and athlete-led development.
His contribution challenges traditional thinking and explores how coaches can design environments that support adaptability, ownership, and long-term engagement, with direct and practical links back to rugby coaching practice.
Why should coaches attend Coaching Week?
Learn practical, evidence informed coaching strategies Hear from global experts and England pathway coaches Reflect on and improve your coaching practice Connect with coaches across the rugby community Take ideas straight back to your players and sessions
Register now and be part of England Rugby’s Online Coaching Week (23–27 February).
