Rowan Belchers
For decades, the 4-minute mile was considered to be unachievable until Roger Bannister broke it in 1954. Within the next 6 months, 3 different runners ran the mile in under 4 minutes.
The mind controls what the body can do, and for that reason, it is vital that mental fitness becomes a part of the overall Bishops Rugby approach. Rival schools have long made mental fitness a focus and, as Bishops Rugby brings its high performance game plan into line with other schools, so mental fitness has been integrated into the fold, headed up by the the Bishops HPRC (High Performance Rugby Committee).
Since January 2025, a 50-player Open squad has been doing mental sessions on a Friday afternoon in preparation for the season ahead. A mental framework has been created that focuses on self-belief, assertiveness and groundedness: all vital ingredients for high performance and all germain to the Bishops Rugby context where re-strengthening rugby processes and approaches is the order of the day.
The response has been fantastic. All players have relished the opportunity to work on their mental fitness and have willingly recognised the value of this aspect of the modern game. Many high-performance driving blockers have been cleared, all of which add up to team-wide performance: assisting captains with their leadership; strengthening communication channels between coaches and players; building a culture of rugby performance; attending to individual players who are lacking in confidence; building team camaraderie.
Mental fitness has become a pillar of Bishops Rugby and will be extended into other teams and age groups over time. Whilst not a standalone driver of rugby success, when added into the mix of the many other fronts on which the HPRC is working, mental fitness is a vital cog in this increasingly well-oiled machine.
Rowan Belchers is an OD (S89) and former Bishops 1st XV rugby. He is a part of the Bishops High Performance Rugby Committee tasked with implementing and managing the current “This is Bishops” rugby programme, which includes Rowan volunteering his time to help the senior players become mentally fit. Professionally, Rowan founded and runs Lockstep, an executive leadership development consultancy.