Meet Our New Head Coach
Reading Rugby Club’s new head coach, Jay Henderson, talks about his journey through rugby, the standards he expects and his ambition to bring an intense and exciting style of play to the club.
Tell us a little about your background in rugby.
I played rugby at school, like many lads then went out, got a job, got married and had children. Fortunately, I found my way back to the game.
I returned to playing at Phoenix RFC for a while before becoming their coach, then head coach and Director of rugby. I left Phoenix in 2023 and subsequently spent time studying the game, visiting numerous clubs. I then spent time at CS Stags 1863. Working with some exceptional coaches and players. I led their second team and won the league with them against some very strong teams.
What attracted you to Reading?
When I spoke to Gareth about the opportunity, I knew Mark had been here for a couple of years and had done a good job laying some strong foundations.
I had also visited Reading previously when I was looking at different rugby clubs and trying to learn from what other coaches were doing. I live in Bracknell, so I already knew the club and had coached against many of the sides in this area.
I officially took over with my first session on Tuesday, although I had already been around the club for a few weeks. The players have been great. I have spoken regularly with Will, the first-team captain, and he has given me a valuable insight into the club and the squad.
What struck me immediately was that the players want to improve. I saw that when I came in and ran an initial session with around 20 of the lads. That willingness to learn and get better is enormously important.
​
What is your vision for the team?
It is still early, but I certainly have a vision. The club finished fifth last season and there is plenty of potential within the existing squad, as well as among the new players coming in.
Some of the younger lads are raw, but they want to learn. I have certain ambitions that I will keep between Gareth, the players and myself, but we have to improve on last season.
It is a tough and very physical league, so that will not be easy, but we have our ambitions for this season and beyond.
​
What kind of rugby do you want Reading to play?
I want us to play a more attacking and intense brand of rugby. Intensity is a word the players will hear frequently from me and it will be evident throughout our training sessions.
We are fortunate to have three or four hours of training each week, which gives us the opportunity to work properly and build what we want to achieve.
There will be occasions in the middle of December, away from home in pouring rain, when we will have to roll up our sleeves and play accordingly. But we are giving a great deal of our time and effort to this, so let’s enjoy it. Let’s play exciting rugby and, more often than not, walk off the pitch with a win.
From personal experience, any Reading has never been a pleasant team to play against. We need to retain that edge while executing things better.We also have a very exciting backline and some extremely talented players. My job is to bring all of that together and build upon it.
​
Will every player have an opportunity to impress you?
Absolutely. Nobody will simply be handed a place, everything has to be earned. Everything is open and every player has the opportunity to show me what he can do.
I have watched a lot of the team’s games back from last year, but I do not have established relationships with most of the squad. That gives everyone a blank slate.
Of course, I will draw upon the knowledge and experience already within the club. You cannot arrive, throw everything out of the window and start again. I want players to demonstrate that they can perform within the more attacking and intense style we are looking to introduce.
Having 45+ players at training provides a real opportunity. I do not want to categorise somebody automatically as a first, second or third-team player. I want them to show me what they can do.
​
What standards will you expect?
I am very clear about what I expect from the players, just as I am clear about what they can expect from me. Standards have to be met.
The players will be pushed, but they will also receive the structure, commitment and coaching they need to improve. That was part of my conversation with Gareth from the beginning.
My biggest challenge is probably patience. We have a limited amount of time before the first league match and developing the team will be a long process. I want things to move quickly, but it is important that we build them properly.
​
Are you a process-driven coach or someone who prefers to work through instinct and flow?
I am quite process-driven. You will see that in the structures I put in place, including the way training sessions are planned and organised.
There will always be room for players to express themselves, particularly within the attacking game, but that freedom needs a clear structure behind it.
​
Finally, what can supporters expect from Reading this season?
They can expect intensity, high standards and exciting rugby. We want to improve, we want to compete near the top of the league and we want to give people a team they will enjoy watching.