2026-05-31 09:30:19
Stuart Lancaster thinks it is “harder” for his wife Nina than anyone else in their family when Connacht play Glasgow Warriors.
The 56-year-old coach made a pact with son Dan to suspend their regular conversations about rugby earlier this year when Connacht, the side Stuart coaches, played Dan’s team, marking the firs ttime they had gone head-to-head, because they found it the best way to “protect” one another.
Stuart explained to The Times newspaper: “That’s our way of protecting each other. Dan can look his team-mates in the eye and say we haven’t spoken. He knows as much about my coaching as anyone, really — I’ve coached him since he was six years old.
“It’s probably harder for my wife, Nina, which is similar to the Farrell dynamic when it’s been Andy against Owen with poor Colleen stuck in the middle.
“You just get into professional mode, don’t you? We’re going to prepare to beat Glasgow and Glasgow are going to prepare to beat us. You put everything else to one side.”
Despite working for rival sides, Stuart still enjoys cheering Dan on for Glasgow Warriors when he gets the chance.
The former flanker enjoyed reading the autobiography of rugby league coach Ivan Cleary, whose son Nathan was a star in his Penrith Panthers side.
He said: “Cleary writes that 99 per cent of the time, you see your son as a player.
“Then there is one per cent of the time when you see him as your son, more so when you’re watching them for another team and it’s out of your control.
“If Connacht don’t have a game, Nina or I will try to get to Scotstoun to watch him. That’s when you see him as your son rather than a player.
“It’s different, but you’re still supportive and Dan will still ask for feedback.”
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