In this episode
What does it take to turn a professional sports career into a foundation for lifelong leadership? In this episode, we sit down with Willi Heinz, former England international and rugby veteran, to uncover what rugby taught him about resilience, humility, and high-performance culture.
From playing for Gloucester and The Crusaders to representing England on the international stage, Willi shares stories of grit, transition, and mentorship. Now, as a youth coach and rugby director, he reflects on the importance of listening, adapting, and learning from failure to grow as both a player and a leader.
Key Themes:
▶️ Adaptability is Everything: Switching countries and cultures brought challenges, but Willi’s commitment to listening and buying into new systems made the difference.
▶️ Simplicity Drives High Performance: Coaches like Eddie Jones emphasized clarity over complexity—a lesson Willi now applies to his own coaching style.
▶️ Show Up, No Matter What: His motto for young players? Keep turning up. It’s consistency that drives progress, not just talent.
▶️ Process Over Outcome: Willi now focuses on enjoying the daily grind—because performance isn’t built on goals, it’s built on habits.
Top Quotes from Willi Heinz
“Why can’t it be you?”
“Leadership is clarity. Strip away the noise and focus on the few key actions.”
“The best lesson rugby taught me? Just keep showing up.”
“We delay happiness by chasing the outcome. Fall in love with the process.”
About Willi
Willi Heinz is a former international rugby player who played for England and top clubs like Gloucester and Canterbury. Now based in Christchurch, New Zealand, he serves as a Rugby Director and youth coach, focused on developing the next generation of athletes. His approach combines technical mastery with emotional intelligence, helping young players grow into great teammates, thinkers, and leaders.
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