Meet the Team
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Dan Cottrell - Editor
Dan Cottrell has spent most of his adult life collecting and absorbing
the most useful rugby coaching secrets he can find.
When not digging out insightful coaching approaches, he's working in the game as
a practising RFU
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Level 3 Coach, a Welsh Rugby Union Course Leader, and skills coach for the Young Ospreys
Academy in Swansea.
To read more about Dan please
click here
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Paul Tyler – Rugby Coach Junior joint editor
Paul Tyler is a Scottish Rugby Union level 3 qualified coach currently coaching at Greenock Wanderers
RFC in National division 1. He is also a former SRU rugby development officer and
a qualified referee.
Paul played representative rugby in both codes until a serious neck injury ended
his playing career at the age of 22.
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A strong scientific background influences his coaching and he is always reviewing
coaching material from around the world to improve his own coaching.
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Colin Ireland – Rugby Coach Junior joint editor
A qualified Physical Education teacher with sixteen years experience working for the Scottish Rugby
Union. Colin has a vast and varied experience of coaching and teaching rugby at
every level of the game from mini’s to international squads.
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Now self employed as a sports consultant, he still doesn’t have enough time
to play golf, but enjoys the annual trip to Spain struggling on the slick greens.
A young family keep him busy in an active outdoor life.
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Mark Calverley - Rugby Coach columnist
Based in New Zealand for the last seven years, Mark is Head of Physical Education
at Wanganui Collegiate School. He has coached the school’s 1st XV, and Wanganui
District U18s, U20s, and currently the Marist Club men’s senior team (league
champions in 2007).
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Mark has an RFU Level 3 award, an IRB Level 4 award and has completed the NZRFU
Practicum award – the highest coaching award in New Zealand. As a player,
he played for England U18s, Warwickshire, Nuneaton, Nottingham and Harlequins. He
also represented England Students (as captain) and Great Britain Students at rugby
league.
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Toby Curthoys - Publisher
Toby is our Publisher, responsible for rugby coaching products. Toby has previously worked at a number of market leading publishing businesses around the world.
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He is passionate about rugby, but a detached retina ended his career before it began, that and the fact he talked a much better game than he played.
In fact Toby still does talk a lot about the game, which is why he’s ideally placed to work on our rugby publications. Fortunately, Dan, Colin and Paul keep his more bizarre theories about how the game “should” be played in check..
Email: toby.curthoys@greenstarmedia.net
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Duncan Heard – Customer Services Representative
The guardian of our customer service standards, Duncan’s job is to make sure
you are happy! If your newsletter is missing, your e-mail address has changed or
you’d like to comment on any of our products, for better or for worse, Duncan’s
your man.
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Duncan hails from Devon and is a former lifeguard, fitness manager and swimming coach.
He is also a proud Dad to his two energetic daughters. When not at
work, Duncan is a top class bowls player, having won six county titles, most recently
he qualified to play in the World Indoor Singles Championships in January 2009. The biggest cross he has to bear is
being a supporter of Aldershot Town Football Club.
Email: duncan.heard@greenstarmedia.net
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Julie Heathorn – Accounts Manager and Company Secretary
Kentish lass Julie has been accurately and efficiently managing the accounts and
company secretarial duties almost since she joined the company in 1998 with a first
class business studies degree.
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Julie pays the wages, balances the books and is very strict about paying our bills
on time and doubles up as one of the most fastidious proofreaders and researchers
the publishing world has ever known. In her spare moments she’s walking her
Husky for two hours each morning, and seeing Snow Patrol, Stereophonics or Texas
in concert.
Email: julie.heathorn@greenstarmedia.net
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Julie Lifton - Production Editor
Julie’s artistic talents don’t just reside in the QuarkXpress, Photoshop and Illustrator programs, as she’s also skilled at batik, stained glass windows and needlepoint. Most of your newsletters, training sessions and reports have been laid out by Julie, who is a graduate of the Reigate School of Art and Design and a regular attendee at evening classes ranging from art to singing.
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Theatre, dinner with friends and long walks in the country are her favourite pastimes. At home, Julie has been in the vanguard of those welcoming the rush of foreign labour to these shores by opening her doors to several Polish lodgers.
Email: julie.lifton@greenstarmedia.net
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Pritam Shitole
- IT Manager
With a first class honours degree in computing, Pritam was the ideal candidate to manage our IT systems.
The very thought of new systems excites him, however easy or complex they may be. A philosophical person with an engaging positive outlook on life, finding IT solutions is Pritam’s passion!
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While not working, Pritam likes cooking delicious curries and eating donuts. To balance this he regularly hits the gym, although it doesn’t look like it.
Email: pritam.shitole AT greenstamedia.net
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Andrew Griffiths
- Managing Director
Andrew founded Better Rugby Coaching and is responsible for the company's strategy to publish the best instructional rugby coaching and fitness advice that is delivered with unbeatable service. He is proud to have led the company to Investor in People status, reflecting its commitment to develop all employees to their full potential.
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Andrew is a former business journalist, soccer and rugby player, and is married with three children.
Email: andrew.griffiths@greenstarmedia.net
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Kia Hall
- Email Marketing Executive
Kia’s background in marketing varies from luxury watches to record labels and digital signage. Having studied digital art at the University for the Creative Arts in Surrey, she enjoys bringing creativity into whatever she is working on, from direct mail campaigns to image and web editing.
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Outside of work Kia enjoys seeing friends, Pilates, going to gigs and is learning to ski and snowboard. She recently abseiled 100 feet down Twickenham Stadium in aid of The Stroke Association – despite being terrified of heights!
Email: kia.hall AT greenstamedia.net
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Genevieve Glass
- Customer Services Representative
Adrenaline junkie Genevieve assists Duncan as part of our happy-go-lucky Customer Services team. In her spare time she enjoys kickboxing, weightlifting and swimming and she spends her summers surfing and wakeboarding.
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Genevieve is also a keen animal lover and often spends weekends visiting zoos and rare species centres and volunteering at wildlife organisations.
Email: Genevieve.Glass AT greenstamedia.net
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Mark Lawford
-Editor
Mark has 22 years' experience in sports journalism. He worked for The Times, Daily Telegraph and Daily Mail.
For almost six years he was Sports Editor of Metro in London where he worked with Will Greenwood, Josh Lewsey and Joe Worsley to get their opinions and insights on the latest rugby news.
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In 2006, he set up Daily Mail Sport Online where he worked until taking over at Rugby Coach Weekly in 2011.
He coached his youngest son's team at tag level and still helps out as a tackle bag/stooge for both sons when required during training.
Email: mark.lawford AT greenstamedia.net