Yeovil Rugby Club Coaches' Development Day 2026
Yeovil Rugby Club was proud to host its 2026 Coaches' Development Day, bringing together coaches from across the club for a full day dedicated to learning, sharing ideas and investing in the future of rugby at Yeovil.
While many people saw the visit from England international Marlie Packer OBE, the day itself was much bigger than one guest appearance. It was the culmination of weeks of planning and organisation to provide our volunteer coaches with the opportunity to develop their knowledge, improve their coaching skills and ultimately give every player at Yeovil Rugby Club the very best experience.
Investing in Our Volunteers
Our coaches are the backbone of the club.
Every week they give up countless hours to coach, mentor and inspire players from our youngest age grades right through to senior rugby. This day was about giving something back to them.
The programme was carefully designed to provide practical ideas, guidance and support that coaches could take straight back to their teams.
Sessions throughout the day included:
- Understanding the Club Coaching Coordinator role
- The structure of age-grade rugby at Yeovil RC
- Safeguarding and RugbySafe
- Engaging and developing younger players
- Practical demonstration coaching sessions
- Planning and delivering effective training sessions
- Supporting players of all abilities, including those who are neurodiverse
The aim was simple — Learn. Support. Inspire. Grow the Game.
A Club-Wide Effort
Events like this don't happen by accident.
A huge amount of planning went into organising the day, with Simon Chubb and Bea Chubb leading the programme and coordinating the schedule, speakers and coaching content to ensure there was something valuable for every coach in attendance.
From arranging guest speakers and practical sessions to welcoming attendees and ensuring everything ran smoothly on the day, a great deal of work took place behind the scenes to make the event a success.
The club would also like to thank the volunteers who helped throughout the day, including those who kept everyone fed with a fantastic complimentary BBQ and refreshments.
An Inspiration for Every Coach
A highlight of the afternoon was welcoming England and Saracens star Marlie Packer OBE.
Marlie shared her journey from grassroots rugby to representing England on the international stage before joining coaches out on the pitch to demonstrate coaching techniques and practical sessions.
Her willingness to spend time with our volunteers, answer questions and get involved with the demonstrations made a huge impact and provided inspiration for coaches across every section of the club.
Supporting the Club Beyond Rugby
The day also strengthened Yeovil Rugby Club's growing relationship with STIGA, who attended to showcase their innovative grounds equipment.
Thanks to the partnership already being developed with the club—and with a little help from Marlie's enthusiasm—we're delighted that STIGA will be providing the club with an additional robotic mower and a sit-on mower, helping us continue to improve our facilities for everyone who plays and visits Yeovil Rugby Club.
Looking Ahead
Coach education is something Yeovil Rugby Club is passionate about.
By investing in our volunteers, we invest directly in every player who pulls on a Yeovil shirt.
Whether that's introducing a six-year-old to rugby for the first time or helping develop the next generation of senior players, great coaching creates great experiences.
The success of this year's Coaches' Development Day has laid fantastic foundations, and we're already looking forward to building on it in the future.
A huge thank you to everyone who attended, presented, volunteered and supported the event.
Together we learn. Together we grow. Together we succeed.
