What Farming and Rugby Teams have in Common

As we head into another weekend of rugby, it got me thinking about how much farming and rugby teams actually have in common.

At first glance, they seem worlds apart. One involves livestock, weather, and long days. The other is played over 80 minutes on a Saturday afternoon. But when it comes to building a successful business, there are some surprising similarities.

The biggest lesson? A successful team isn't built around one star player.

Every rugby team relies on each position doing its job. The flashy tries might make the highlights reel, but games are often won by the players doing the hard work that nobody notices. The same applies on the farm.

It's easy to focus on the big-ticket items like stock prices, milk payouts or rainfall, but it's often the smaller, consistent habits that determine whether a farming business performs well financially. Regular cashflow reviews, keeping costs under control, maintaining equipment, and making informed decisions all add up over time.

Another similarity is having a game plan. No rugby team runs onto the field hoping everything works out. They have a strategy, they know their strengths, and they adjust when conditions change. The same should apply to your farm business. Do you have a budget for the year? Do you know what profit you need to make? Have you considered how a drop in schedule prices or a dry season would affect cashflow? Often, annual accounts are prepared far after the season has finished. While they're an important reporting tool, they're also an opportunity to review what worked, what didn't, and how next season's game plan might look.

Good teams also communicate well.

Players, coaches, and support staff are constantly talking. They share information, solve problems early, and make decisions together. The same applies to farming businesses. Whether you're farming with family, in a partnership, or employing staff, regular conversations about finances can prevent misunderstandings and help everyone work towards the same goals.

And don't forget the importance of the bench.

Every successful rugby team has trusted people they can rely on when things get tough. Farming businesses need the same support network. Your banker, accountant, agronomist, farm advisor and other rural professionals each bring different skills to the table. They won't win the game for you, but they can help you make better decisions when it matters most.

Finally, the best teams don't just celebrate the wins, they review the losses.

A disappointing season doesn't mean you're a bad farmer, just as one poor rugby season doesn't make a bad team. The key is understanding what happened, learning from it, and making improvements for next time.

The most successful farming businesses I've worked with aren't necessarily the biggest or the most profitable every year. They're the ones that plan ahead, communicate well, adapt when conditions change, and focus on the fundamentals. Just like a good rugby team.

So, the next time you're watching a game from the sideline or the couch, remember that many of the qualities that build a championship team are the very same qualities that build a financially successful farming business.

Because whether you're chasing points on the scoreboard or profit on the farm, success rarely comes down to one big moment. It's usually the result of good planning, strong teamwork, and consistently getting the basics right.

© 2025. All rights reserved.