Brian Ashton - Case Studies

Case Studies

Each Case Study reflects a wide range of delivery in a variety of areas of sport and business. As you will see, case studies range from lecturing to coaching, reflecting the different clientele SCD Southwest Ltd caters for.

Oxford University

In July 2008 Brian was approached by Steve Hill Director of coaching at Oxford University Rugby club with a view to helping the Oxford Blues team leading up to and including the 2008 Varsity Match. This was an enjoyable and challenging experience in a unique rugby environment where success or failure is judged purely on the outcome of one game. Oxford won for the first time in four years 33 – 29 in what was described as one of the best Varsity matches ever played at Twickenham!

Brian Ashton's work with Oxford University praised
Former All Black captain Anton Oliver praised former England coach Brian Ashton for his work with Oxford University this autumn following the Dark Blues sensational 33-29 victory over Cambridge at Twickenham in the 127th Varsity match.
"Brian Ashton has been fabulous for our team," said Oliver, 33 whose appearance at Twickenham could possibly be his last major game of rugby as he sets his sights elsewhere.
"From what I've heard and read when this game comes around most players go into their shells but Brian has been on our case all the time saying 'Have a go and if it's on then play it.'

I just wanted to thank you for the significant contribution you made to the Varsity campaign this year. The work you did with Steve and Boydy was absolutely fantastic and was reflected in the confidence we had in our game plan and abilities, and ultimately the positive manner in which we performed on the big day. It was a privilege and a pleasure to meet and work with you and I am glad we gave HQ a show they will be talking about for a long time to come!

Peter Clarke – Captain Oxford

Rugby Football Union

After leaving his position as Head Coach of the England Rugby Senior team Brian was offered a consultancy role with England Rugby.
This position revolves largely around coach education within the elite and community departments and is delivered to groups and individuals on a countrywide basis.


Just a short note to say a big thank you for the session that you did at Newbury last night. It is the first time that I have witnessed 150 coaches watching a session in total silence for over an hour trying to hang onto every word.
The verbal feedback has been very good and Gavin was delighted with the way the evening went as were all the RDOs and staff.
Your delivery indoors was so refreshing and underlined what the coaching department have been delivering through our coach education courses and I could see many links. One of my great treasures is a hand written letter from a certain Brian Ashton when you were the England Colts coach in the early 1980s. You wrote to all Colts Coaches (I was coaching the RN Colts) requesting that we move away from the set piece and look at liberating our players. The letter sits in my in tray and sad as I am I use it to underline what coaching is about when I need some inspiration.

Will Feebery | Coaching Development Manager

TeamBath Netball

TeamBath Superleague Netball team

As part of his consultancy work with the University of Bath Brian has taken a special interest in the coach education of Jess Garland the TeamBath Superleague coach. They have worked closely together to develop a challenging and different approach to a group of players who operate at a very high level of performance (8 of the squad are full internationals). The TeamBath side won the Superleague this year with 18 victories from 18 games!

TeamBath's Head coach Jess Garland said:

"It had been great to have the opportunity to work with Brian this season in his new role at the University. I remember first talking with Brian (I didn't know him) outside of the gym at the STV what must have been weeks before the Rugby World Cup. We were running some England Netball Camps and I was so taken a back by how interested he was in what we were doing.Here was a guy bulding up to the biggest compeition in his sport and he was genuinely keen to hear what we were up to in Netball. He struck me then as a very honest, enthusiastic and genuine man with a clear passion of both sport and Coaching.
Since working with Brian this has all been confirmed and I share a common intrigue and fascination in the role of Coaching and how I can better myself to benefit those around me, mainly the athletes. He brings new and creative ideas to the table but with a remarkable simplicity in his approach. A very down to earth, no nonsense attitude that is full of passion and energy. It has been a refreshing experience working and talking with Brian this season and it is without doubt that both myself and the players that I work with have benefitted from his experience in the Coaching world."

Brian Ashton
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