Graeme Close

speaker

532 appearances 1 recordings 1 series first heard May 2026 last heard 5 May

Graeme Close’s voice in public audio — every appearance, attributed to the second.

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Recordings per month over the last 12 months — 1 in all, peaking in May 2026 with 1.

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The Offload · British and Irish Lions Head of Performance Graeme Close – THE DRESSING ROOM: Unlocked | The Offload · 5 May 2026 podcast

Being 5'5 and about 18 kilos, I won't naturally walk in that world.

I was more comfortable with strings and I wasn't on one out.

I think it was a couple of things.

I think, one, it's a confidence in your knowledge that you're not a blagger.

And ultimately, that...

you will you'll bring a level of honesty and and hopefully intelligence to to any discussions but yeah understanding that world understanding that it's more important what

a young player is going to look at what you do more than I say.

So the only thing I can have is for you post-training to be making a great nutrition choice because a young kid who wants your shirt is going to look at you and say, great, that's more important than me sticking any infographical.

So it was really important to influence key people and,

You know, a story that I've never probably told, and I don't even know if I've told you this one, was my very first day was at the dog track in Cork, which I did wonder.

I'd heard all about this unbelievable rugby team, Munster, and we're training a dog track in Cork.

Yeah.

We're getting changed there.

There was no food at the end.

So I remember trying to organize a wagon for some food to come along so we could feed after the trip.

Anyway, the point being, Paulie grabbed me that day and took me for a coffee in that dog track.

And we sat down and had a coffee.

And as captain, he told me a little bit about the culture of Munster Rugby, what it meant to be a part of this unbelievable group and what I needed to do to be a success within my team and where he thought I could help.

What's interesting is, you know, that was what, 20 years ago.

And to this day, you know, maybe it was just Paul his way.

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