Newington College GPS Champions | Inside the Program

What does it really take to build a championship-winning school rugby programme?

In this episode of the Coaching Culture Schools Rugby Series, Ben Herring sits down with Tim Rapp, Head Coach of Newington College’s First XV, fresh from winning the Sydney GPS Premiership for the first time in 11 years.

But this conversation is about far more than winning.

Tim has one of the broadest coaching backgrounds in Australian rugby, from the Waratahs and Australian pathways to schoolboy rugby. He shares what this season taught him about coaching young men, giving players ownership, adapting your game plan to the players you actually have, and creating an environment players genuinely want to return to.

One of the central ideas behind Newington’s programme is simple:

“We’re not a rugby school. We’re a school that plays rugby.”

Tim explains how Newington has worked to connect rugby to the wider purpose of the school, developing the person first and the player second. The rugby field becomes the last classroom of the day, where young men can learn resilience, responsibility, leadership and how to deal with adversity.

We also unpack the player-driven “ALL IN” philosophy that became much bigger than the First XV. Players coached younger students, refereed junior matches and found ways to connect the senior team with the entire rugby programme. Eventually “All In” became “We’re All In”, with players recognising teachers, grounds staff and other people around the school who had contributed to their journey.

Tim also shares some powerful lessons for coaches:

Be the best part of someone else’s day.

Understand that you don't know what a young person has experienced before arriving at training.

Think carefully about the language you use and whether it pulls players towards the game or drives them away.

Give players boundaries, then allow them to explore within them.

Ask questions instead of always providing answers.

And perhaps most importantly, remember that being the head coach doesn't mean you need to control everything.

As Tim puts it:

“I’m not the controller of all. Let someone else do it.”

This is an inside look at the people, coaching, culture and philosophy behind one of Newington College rugby's most successful seasons in more than a decade.

If you coach school rugby, youth sport or simply want to build an environment people want to belong to, there is plenty in this conversation to take away.

Please visit my website to get more information: coachingculture.com.au

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✅ About Coaching Culture with Ben Herring.

Welcome to Coaching Culture, where I host candid conversations with top rugby coaches and leaders from across industries to explore what it truly takes to build lasting, high-performing cultures. In each episode, we go beyond strategy to discuss trust, leadership, emotional intelligence, and the values that drive long-term success. From international rugby to grassroots sport, I aim to offer insights that will inspire and educate coaches and leaders everywhere.

My focus is on the cultural side of coaching – how to connect with people, deliver impactful messages, and create environments that foster growth. Whether you’re a rugby coach or a business leader, you’ll find valuable lessons. Join me to learn how we coach, lead, and create high-performance environments.

🔔 If you're looking for coaching & leadership skills, hit ! Stay tuned for candid conversations, expert insights, strategies, & inspiring stories.
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