They Said It Couldn’t Be Done, So He Built the Asia Pacific Lions

This week on Coaching Culture, I sit down with Saabir Cader, the man behind the Asia Pacific Lions — one of the most ambitious new projects in world rugby.

The idea sounds almost ridiculous when you say it out loud: build an invitational team representing the Asia-Pacific region, attract international players, find sponsors, create a genuine identity, and then convince a Premiership club to come to Sri Lanka and play them.

Plenty of people told Saabir it wouldn’t work.

Then Northampton Saints said yes.

We get into the real story behind the Asia Pacific Lions — where the idea came from, the doors that were slammed shut, the pressure once the dream became real, and the bigger ambition to create something that can genuinely grow rugby across Asia and the Pacific.

We also talk leadership, resilience, culture, bringing players from completely different backgrounds together, and what it takes to keep pushing when there’s very little evidence that your idea is actually going to work.

A fascinating conversation with someone prepared to have a crack at something big.

In this episode:

The origin of the Asia Pacific Lions
Why Saabir refused to give up
Convincing Northampton Saints to come to Sri Lanka
Building an invitational team from scratch
Creating culture in a matter of days
The involvement of international players
The long-term vision for Asian and Pacific rugby
Whether the Lions could become this region’s answer to the Barbarians

If you enjoy conversations about rugby, coaching, leadership, culture and high performance, .

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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