This week, host Richard Graves is joined by the brilliant Dr. James Morehen,lead performance nutritionist for England Rugby and founder of the Performance Nutrition Network. With a career that’s taken him from snowboarding in Canada to backstage of international test matches, James brings a fascinating, no-nonsense look at the art (and science) of elite-level nutrition.

If you’re a coach, athlete, nutritionist or just curious about what fuels champions, this episode is packed with practical insights, powerful stories, and a few grassroots tips that could change your game.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• How to fuel for optimal performance and recovery during high-stakes tournaments like the Six Nations
• The importance of preparation, trust, and consistency in elite sports nutrition
• Why carbohydrates aren’t the enemy, and how they’re periodised to match training loads
• How halftime nutrition strategies can make or break a second-half performance
• The real-world challenges of fuelling players during international travel and changing environments
• Simple, effective advice for grassroots players and coaches to improve fuelling and recovery on a budget
• Why Jaffa Cakes and chocolate milk still have a place in post-match recovery
• What inspired James to go from aspiring S&C coach to becoming one of the top performance nutritionists in UK sport
• The importance of building trust with athletes and the subtle art of sideline communication
• James’ thoughts on balancing consistency with cultural curiosity when travelling with elite teams

Whether you're working at the elite level or coaching an U16s team on Sundays, this episode offers something for everyone. As James puts it, "We’re all failed athletes trying to help others be their best."

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​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes
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Key discussion points include:

• How advanced analytics are transforming rugby from traditional 'brute force' approaches to data-driven decision making
• The crucial role of contextualising performance data for meaningful insights
• Latest innovations in player safety technology, including smart mouthguards for concussion detection
• Unique considerations in women's rugby performance monitoring and injury prevention
• The future of sports technology in broadcasting and fan engagement

Whether you're a sports scientist, coach, or performance analyst, this episode offers valuable insights into how technology is shaping the future of rugby at all levels. May shares candid perspectives from both sides of the fence - as a former player and now a technology leader - making this a must-listen for anyone interested in the intersection of sports science and professional rugby.

About Tom May
A former international rugby player with an illustrious playing career spanning nearly two decades, Tom May brings unique insights from both sides of the professional rugby world. After making his debut in 1999 and playing at the highest levels of the sport, Tom has successfully transitioned into the sports technology sector. Now serving as Head of Global Rugby at Catapult Sports, he combines his extensive playing experience with a passion for advancing rugby through technology and analytics. His dual perspective as both a former player and technology leader makes him uniquely qualified to bridge the gap between traditional rugby culture and its data-driven future.

FREE 7d SCIENCE FOR SPORT ACADEMY TRIAL

SIGN UP NOW: https://bit.ly/SFSepisode241

​ Learn Quicker & More Effectively
​ Optimise Your Athletes' Recovery
​ Position Yourself As An Expert To Your Athletes And Naturally Improve Buy-In
​ Reduce Your Athletes' Injury Ratese
​ Save 100's Of Dollars A Year That Would Otherwise Be Spent On Books, Courses And More
​ Improve Your Athletes' Performance
​ Advance Forward In Your Career, Allowing You To Earn More Money And Work With Elite-Level Athletes
​ Save Yourself The Stress & Worry Of Constantly Trying To Stay Up-To-Date With Sports Science Research

🔔 Subscribe to the podcast on your favourite platform

• Apple Podcasts
• Google Podcasts
• Spotify
• Stitcher