Charlie Hodgson, the British and Irish Lions rugby player with a 16-year career representing Sale Sharks, Saracens and England, has created a new initiative called The Rugby Buddy Mindset Academy to provide dedicated support to help young people excel inside and outside of the sport.
With varied resources, mentoring and coaching, the Academy has already built a strong, inclusive community, with an emphasis on mental health, resilience and guiding young players in the right ways to overcome challenges and setbacks.
Introducing The Rugby Buddy Mindset Academy
In the early days of his retirement from professional sport, while working in the corporate space, Hodgson was asked to share his experiences and wisdom with young players on the pathway to becoming future rugby professionals. He immediately recognised the importance of coaching from real-world players who have been on the same journey.
Some of the many, often profound hurdles that youth players face can relate to their exposure to social media, particularly content around appearance comparisons, which can damage confidence and impact the resilience that is crucial to succeeding in the cutthroat world of pro sports.
Speaking on behalf of his Rugby Buddy programme, Hodgson says, ‘Children can be dedicated and passionate, but speak to any kids rugby team, and you’ll find that a proportion of the most promising players are trapped in a cycle where they chase validation, constantly overanalyse whether they are good enough, and handle massive levels of stress and anxiety that can feed into every aspect of their lives.
I know first-hand what that feels like and have spoken openly about a fearfulness that lingered well into my retirement from rugby. Unhealthy obsessions with winning and suffering under a weight of expectation aren’t things any parent or guardian wants for their child, and this is precisely what my Mindset Academy tackles.’
The Value of Mindset Coaching From the Rugby Buddy Programme
Rugby Buddy’s Academy teaches the skills that are missing from conventional coaching, including the mental capacity to perform decisively on the field, how to bounce back from losses and negativity, and breaking free from expectation to become the best possible player. Academy members benefit from:
- The Champion Mindset Course: A bite-sized programme designed specifically for young people to teach them actionable techniques they can use when they question their performance or struggle with anxiety and stress.
- Group mentoring and coaching: Bi-weekly Q&A calls are scheduled with Hodgson, where players can ask questions, raise problems or worries, and learn about how their peers are managing similar concerns.
- The Library: The Academy circulates a new training module every month, each emphasising a specific skill or confidence-building tactic that players can put into action.
Importantly, the Mindset Academy is also a community of youth rugby players from all walks of life, hosting a 24/7 space where members can celebrate their wins, raise questions they can't wait for answers to, or make new friends who share a love for the sport.
Players receive access to incredible opportunities to win tickets, including the chance to watch England play at Twickenham, as well as content contributed by rugby pros past and present who share their own triumphs, comebacks, and stories with the Rugby Buddy community.
Hodgson says, ‘We’re all about giving children the courage and empowerment they need to embrace the inevitable challenges that they’ll come across. I’m beyond proud of the amazing feedback we’ve had so far from parents, who’ve seen their children unlock levels of self-belief they’ve never seen before.
Our players recognise how their mental well-being matters just as much on the pitch as their speed, strength and agility, forming baseline skills that will safeguard them from the struggles so many rugby professionals have dealt with in silence for years.’
About Charlie Hodgson, Founder of The Rugby Buddy Mindset Academy
Hodgson has won numerous prestigious accolades during his career, including being part of the Saracens team that won multiple domestic and European titles, winning the Guinness Premiership with his Sale Sharks teammates, and becoming the top points scorer in Premiership history.
He has spoken about his anxiety during youth rugby trials, the knockback of being told he was too small to succeed, and the pressure that still affected him even when he appeared to be flying high, having been picked to play for England.
The Academy was conceived based on these experiences, and inspired by the recognition that today’s young players encounter many similar bumps in the road, with Hodgson having watched his eldest son deal with the same difficulties and handle the emotional impacts of his friends and teammates being let go.
In Hodgson's words, the Academy is about building a legacy where children won't just survive the sport or their efforts to become professional players but will truly thrive.
About Rugby Buddy
The Rugby Buddy Mindset Academy, founded by former professional player Charlie Hodgson, offers a unique coaching experience and supportive community for emerging rugby talent. Designed to nurture both skill and mindset, the Academy helps young players develop confidence, consistency, and freedom in their game. Through its focus on mental skills, participants gain the tools to thrive both on and off the field.
Media Contact:
Charlie Hodgson
+44 (0)2038 353637
https://www.rugby-buddy.com
