The conversation usually starts the same way. A young coach corners me after a session or fires off a LinkedIn message. “I want to be a professional coach. How do I do it?” I have a standard reply by now. Did you play professional rugby? If yes, congratulations. You’ve already shortened the odds considerably. The professional game is generous to those who’ve played at the highest level. The door isn’t open, exactly, but it opens more easily when you knock on it. If not, I follow up with a slightly longer question. Are you willing to coach teenagers for the…

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