🎙 From Test Winger to Players’ Champion to Agency Founder
Are you ready to discover what true leadership looks like beyond the field?In this episode of The Business End, we sit down with Niall Woods — former Ireland international, CEO of Rugby Players Ireland, and founder of Navy Blue Sports — to explore what it means to redefine leadership through humility, hard work, and a player-first mindset.
We’ll cover:
✅ His journey from the dressing room to the boardroom
✅ How he built a “player-first” movement through honesty and authenticity
✅ Lessons in reinvention, negotiation under pressure, and leading without ego
✅ Why the real power in leadership lies in listening, not shouting
By the end, you’ll understand how Niall turned experience into impact — and how you can apply his principles of respect, reinvention, and resilience to your own career.
🎧 From the dressing room to the deal table — leadership without the ego.
📺 Watch the full episode for insight into leadership, negotiation, and the mindset it takes to stay ahead in sport, business, and life.
Don’t miss out—join our newsletter to get exclusive insights, bonus content, and expert advice delivered straight to your inbox.👉 Subscribe Now - https://business-end.com/subscribe/
📌 HASHTAGS:#NiallWoods #TheBusinessEnd #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #CareerGrowth #CareerAdvice #Mindset #Motivation #Negotiation #SportsBusiness #AthleteLeadership #BusinessPodcast #Inspiration #Reinvention #Entrepreneurship #PlayerFirst #Teamwork #SuccessMindset #SportsManagement #LifeLessons #LeadershipWithoutEgo #Rugby #SportsIndustry #PersonalDevelopment #AuthenticLeadership
📌 KEYWORDS:Niall Woods interview, Rugby Players Ireland CEO, Navy Blue Sports, leadership in sports, athlete agency, negotiation under pressure, player-first leadership, career reinvention, The Business End podcast, leadership lessons from athletes, sports business strategy, athlete management, sports entrepreneurship, high-performance leadership, business mindset
👍 Don’t forget to like, 💬 comment, and 🔔 subscribe for more inspiring stories from the world of business and sport.
Connect with us - https://linktr.ee/the_business_end
From Ottawa kid to World Rugby Hall of Famer, Al Charron carried Canadian rugby across four World Cups with resilience, humility, and relentless commitment. In this episode of The Business End, Al shares raw lessons on leadership — from bouncing back after devastating injuries, to captaining Canada on the world stage, to proving himself against the best teams on earth.
For founders, CEOs, and leaders, his story is a playbook in resilience, belief, and leading through actions, not ego.
👉 Subscribe for more episodes where sport meets business. https://linktr.ee/the_business_end
Bernard Jackman — former Ireland and Leinster hooker, coach, TV pundit, and entrepreneur — joins The Business End to share raw lessons on resilience, leadership, and culture. From battling injuries and setbacks to rebuilding teams in France and Wales, Bernard reveals how failure fuels growth, why managing the message matters in business, and the secrets behind high-performing teams.
He also opens up on concussion, clashes with Michael Cheika, and his passion for constant learning. A must-listen for business leaders who want elite performance insights from one of rugby’s most honest voices.
👉 Subscribe for more episodes where sport meets business. https://linktr.ee/the_business_end
Dean Richards isn’t just one of rugby’s most feared number eights — he’s a leader who turned standards into silverware. From England caps and Lions tours to rebuilding Leicester into Europe’s dominant force, Dean’s story is raw, resilient, and brutally honest. In this episode, he reveals how to create cultures that self-police, why great teams thrive on adaptability, and what business leaders can steal from elite rugby about sustaining success under pressure.👉 Subscribe for more episodes where sport meets business. https://linktr.ee/the_business_end
At just 27, Archie White made the brave call to walk away from professional rugby.After nearly a decade at Harlequins, lifting trophies and running out at Twickenham, he chose to step out of the rugby bubble and build a new career in business.In this episode of The Business End, Archie opens up about identity, resilience, and the reality of transition when the career you’ve always known suddenly stops. From sacrifice and setbacks to recruitment and reinvention, his story is packed with lessons for athletes, leaders, and anyone facing change.👉 Subscribe for more episodes where sport meets business. https://linktr.ee/the_business_end
Tony Dalwood is a rare blend of elite sport and high-stakes business. A double Cambridge Blue who played for Saracens, Rosslyn Park, and the Irish Exiles, he carried lessons of resilience, discipline, and teamwork from the rugby pitch into the City.
In 2014, Tony led a management buy-in of Gresham House a 150-year-old firm most had written off. Under his leadership it grew more than 30×, becoming a £10bn+ global investment leader in forestry, energy storage, renewables, and growth capital before its sale to US private equity in 2023.
On this episode of The Business End, Tony reveals how obsession, trust, and playing the long game shaped both his sporting and business success — and what leaders today can learn about building winning teams.
👉 Subscribe for more episodes where sport meets business. https://linktr.ee/the_business_end
What makes leadership really work — control, or trust?In this episode, we sit down with Russell “Rusty” Earnshaw, Magic Academy co-founder, European Cup winner with Bath, and England 7s coach. Rusty shares powerful lessons on psychological safety, having tough conversations, and why the best leaders create environments rather than control people.
👉 Subscribe for more episodes where sport meets business. https://linktr.ee/the_business_end
BJ Botha, Rugby World Cup winner and front-row powerhouse, joins Liam Mooney and Justin Fitzpatrick to share lessons from the scrum that apply far beyond the pitch: resilience under pressure, unity in adversity, and never going backwards.
👉 Lessons on resilience, unity, and never going backwards — in sport, business, and life.
🎧 Full podcast: https://linktr.ee/the_business_end
Few coaches left a mark on rugby like Dick Best — strategic, outspoken, and never afraid to call it as he saw it. Fitz & Moo sit down with the former England, Lions, Harlequins and London Irish coach to unpack his philosophy on standards, player ownership, and the brutal honesty that shaped teams on and off the field.
Subscribe for Exclusive Insights:
Don't miss out—join our newsletter to get exclusive insights, bonus content, and expert advice delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now →
👉 Connect with The Business End here: https://linktr.ee/the_business_end
Willie Anderson’s career is the stuff of legend — Ireland captain, fearless leader, and survivor of one of rugby’s wildest off-field stories.
Moo & Fitzy sit down with Willie to uncover his philosophy on trust, respect, and why character always beats talent.
Subscribe for Exclusive Insights:
Don't miss out—join our newsletter to get exclusive insights, bonus content, and expert advice delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now →
👉 For more behind-the-scenes, clips & lessons:
• Follow The Business End – LinkedIn Page – https://lnkd.in/eVVradvn
• Connect with Moo and Fitzy on LinkedIn (Moo – https://lnkd.in/emGU8tZE) and (Fitzy – https://lnkd.in/ewpVHicX)
In this episode of The Business End, Welsh rugby legend and British & Irish Lion Dafydd James opens up about:
• Life after professional rugby
• Mental health and identity
• Leadership from the pitch to the boardroom
🎙️ A powerful, honest take on resilience, performance, and purpose.
🔔 Subscribe for more interviews on what business can learn from sport.
What does it take to lead when the stakes couldn’t be higher? In Episode 2 of The Business End, Tony Underwood — England winger, British & Irish Lion, and commercial pilot — joins Justin Fitzpatrick and Liam Mooney to share his powerful journey of reinvention.
From the intense pressure of facing Jonah Lomu to piloting an aircraft, Tony reveals what true leadership looks like and why creating shared memories builds lasting team culture.
Packed with insights on resilience, focus, and adaptability, this episode is for leaders, athletes, and anyone navigating high-pressure environments.
Listen now and get inspired.Subscribe for Exclusive Insights:Don't miss out—join our newsletter to get exclusive insights, bonus content, and expert advice delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now →
Episode 1 of The Business End dives into the critical moments that define success – when everything matters most. Justin “Fitz” Fitzpatrick, Ireland rugby international and European Cup champion, joins Liam “Moo” Mooney to unpack the DNA of elite performance.
From his early days in Bognor Regis to winning on the world stage, Fitz shares invaluable lessons on resilience, adaptability, and leadership. He discusses how legendary coaches like Sir Clive Woodward shaped his mindset and why incremental improvement is the secret to sustainable success.
This episode delivers insights that leaders, athletes, and professionals can use to thrive when under pressure – in the moments that count, at the business end of the game.
Subscribe for Exclusive Insights:
Don't miss out—join our newsletter to get exclusive insights, bonus content, and expert advice delivered straight to your inbox. Subscribe Now →
