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Jamie Barnwell - The Bermudian Breakdown

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RugbyKO

Never underestimate the strength of a small but motivated rugby team. The first episode of our new Going Global format, today we hop over to Bermuda’s tropical beaches to chat with Jamie Barnwell, head coach for the Bermuda men’s national rugby team.

Despite having fewer resources and a limited player pool, Bermuda rugby is thriving, in part due to Jamie’s training regime and unassailable optimism. We start our conversation by talking about what Bermuda rugby looks like and how Jamie landed a coaching gig soon after landing in the country.

Jamie discusses some of his career highlights before reflecting on the differences in coaching in England versus in Bermuda. After Jamie shares his enthusiasm for coaching such a motivated side, we ask him about how the game has grown in the country. His answer touches on how he helped create an elite player development group and how youngsters are being brought into the sport.

On the topic of his impact, we dive into how Jamie has shifted his team’s culture through
a collaborative coaching style, a focus on staying positive, and developing processes to deal with player mistakes. Near the end of the episode, we talk about what his team’s training regime looks like, the World Rugby Classic Event, and the rugby relationship between Bermuda and its neighbouring countries. A discussion revealing the vitality of Bermudan rugby, tune in to hear more insights from Jamie Barnwell.

Key Points From This Episode:
• Introducing Jamie Barnwell, head coach for the Bermuda men’s national team.
• How having a coffee at a local cafe led to Jamie coaching for Bermuda rugby.
• The state of Bermuda rugby and Jamie’s experience coaching there.
• From England and Malaysia to Bermuda, what coaching means in different countries.
• Creating an elite player development group in Bermuda.
• How the game has been growing for both men and women’s sides in the North Americas.
• Jamie shares his views on what Bermuda needs to go to the next level of rugby.
• Injecting positivity into Bermuda rugby through a collaborative coaching style.
• Developing a process to deal with mistakes — especially if your side often loses.
• Bringing in psychology to build your team’s momentum both off and on the field.
• What a typical week looks like when training the Bermuda national side.
• Hear about the World Rugby Classics, a Bermudan event dedicated to celebrating
international rugby.
• Jamie’s ambitions for the future of Bermuda rugby.
• Local pathways to play Bermudan national rugby and the prevalence of young players.
• The rugby relationship between Bermuda and its neighbouring countries.

“If coaching Bermuda rugby has taught me anything, it’s that you should never underestimate the power of what a small group of motivated people can do.” — Jamie Barnwell [0:05:36]
“We needed to understand how to deal with mistakes. Because if you’re on the losing end of things, you need a process to deal with speed bumps in the game, or you’re going to struggle.” — Jamie Barnwell [0:15:24]

Jamie Barnwell on LinkedIn
Bermuda Rugby
Bermuda Rugby on Facebook
Caribbean Rugby Championship
Rugby Americas North Region
Americas Rugby Championship
Bermuda Olympic Association
World Rugby Classic

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