Sam Trollope has rugby in his bones. He has played the game across three countries — New Zealand, France, and Australia — and when his sons joined Eltham Rugby nine years ago, it wasn’t long before he found himself on the sideline as a coach. He started with the Under 6s, and has stayed with that same group of kids ever since, watching them grow into the young players they are today in the U12s.
That kind of loyalty tells you everything about Sam’s coaching philosophy.
“My main philosophy around coaching is to engage the kids and give them an outlet from the rest of their busy lives. I want them to come down to training, forget about all the crazy things happening in their lives, and enjoy the time spent with their teammates so they feel connected and supported.”
Then, with characteristic honesty, he adds: “On reflection, it sounds like that’s what I want out of it as a coach too.”
That openness — that sense that coaching is as much about community as it is about rugby — is what makes Sam so valued at this club. He wants his players to find a part of the game they can be really good at, and to carry that confidence with them well beyond the training paddock.
What Sam loves most about Eltham Rugby is the people. The diverse backgrounds and cultures that come together under the one banner, and the way that diversity adds enormously to the spirit of the team.
His fondest memories? Watching his two sons play on the same grounds he once played on himself. He knows first-hand that the friendships formed through rugby can last a lifetime — his closest mates are still the ones he grew up playing with. He hopes the U12s boys of 2026 are building those same friendships right now.
One word for his coaching style? Sam settled on Nurturing — and as a coaching group, the U12s are committed to empowering every individual player to build and strengthen their confidence, one session at a time.
We’re lucky to have you, Sam. 🖤💛
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