Fitter. Faster. Stronger. Sharper. A 6-month coaching program built around one goal — dominating your next season. The players who do the work now are the ones who arrive at college rugby and make an impact. The ones who don't are the ones who wish they had.
What I See Every Year
Every year I watch talented players get their first real season handed to them. Not because they lack ability — because they didn't prepare for what was actually coming.
They get outmuscled in contact. They blow up before the final whistle. Their handles break down under pressure. They spend their whole first season catching up instead of making their mark — and some never recover from that start.
No parent wants to watch their son go through that. No athlete wants to look back and know they could have been ready. Built to Play exists so you don't have to.
"The cost of not being prepared isn't just a hard first season. It's lost opportunity, lost confidence, and time you don't get back."
The Program
Everything in Built to Play comes back to one thing — dominating your next season. Not surviving it. Not adjusting to it. Dominating it. Then the season after that. And the one after that. College rugby and beyond is the dream — this is how you build toward it the right way.
01
Fit to
Compete.
Fitness keeps you competitive when skills alone won't. We build your physical foundation — strength, speed, conditioning — around the demands of college rugby specifically. Not generic gym work. Built for the contact area, the breakdown, and the ability to play 80 minutes at a level three or four years above what you've experienced.
You will be stronger. You will be faster. You will be fitter than you've ever been — and you'll know why every session matters.
02
Sharp
Hands.
Sharp Mind.
Skills are what make you dangerous. Fitness is what keeps you dangerous. We work your handles — catch, pass, reflexes, hand-eye coordination — until they're automatic under pressure. Running lines that read the defence. A kicking game that creates go-forward. Decision-making in real time.
The skills that looked good in high school get exposed fast at college level. We make sure yours don't.
03
Eat to Beat.
Train to
Win.
You can't out-train bad habits. This track covers the things most programs skip entirely — nutrition that actually supports your training, recovery routines that let you do more, and how to set your week up so training, school, and life all work together instead of against each other.
This is where the mental edge gets built. Consistency. Confidence. Knowing you've done the work when nobody was watching.
The Reality Check
I see it every single year. Here's what catches players off guard — and what we prepare for in Built to Play:
The contact area is a completely different world. You're suddenly competing against players three and four years older, stronger, and more experienced. Most high schoolers are not physically ready for this on day one.
The fitness demands don't stop. College rugby is relentless. The players who can maintain their skill level in the last 20 minutes are the ones who play.
Skills get exposed under real pressure. A pass that worked in high school breaks down when the defence is faster and the collisions are harder. Handles need to be automatic, not thought about.
Everyone was the best player on their team. The mental adjustment is real — competing for your place, handling criticism, staying confident when the game moves faster than you expected.
Is This For You?
I'm not looking for perfect — I'm looking for hungry, coachable, and accountable. The athlete who does the work when no one's watching. Who wants to become the best version of themselves now, not later. Who looks at their next season as something to attack, not just get through.
✓ This Is You If
✗ This Isn't You If
What Athletes Say
"No one has ever taken such a holistic approach and focused on the whole person the way Troy does. I was able to come back about 6 weeks early from my injury and have the best season of my college career — that would not have been possible without his support and coaching."
— Pat N, D1 College Athlete
"Working with someone who sees the good in you and believes in you is such a motivating force. He's one of the few people that have impacted my life in a positive way."
— Ben Salem, Kenya International & PR7s Athlete
"The man knows his stuff — the way he goes about skill development and building rugby knowledge means he can help any athlete at any level. I'd recommend him to anyone serious about building their game."
— Rhodes Featherstone, All Blacks 7s
"You were integral to me becoming the person I am right now. An excellent example in so many different ways of how to have a positive impact on everyone you meet. Men like you don't always get the credit they deserve."
— Dane, College Athlete
"The players who dominate their first college season didn't get lucky. They did the work before they arrived. Built to Play is that work. I want athletes who are hungry, accountable, and ready to become the best version of themselves — not just for college, but for every season ahead of them. In return I give them everything I have. Real coaching, real care, real results. We work hard. And we have fun doing it. That's the deal."
Troy HallUSA Eagle · Clemson Head Coach · All-American Coach · PR7s Coach · SE All-Stars Coach
This is a 6-month coaching relationship, not a transaction. Troy personally decides who he works with — fit matters more than filling spots. The program is built around your season and your goals.
How To Get Started
Important Notice
This is an independent athlete development program run by Troy Hall in a personal capacity, separate from his role as Head Coach at Clemson University. It exists because Troy believes serious high school rugby players deserve access to elite coaching and real preparation for college rugby — regardless of where they ultimately choose to play.
For athletes considering Clemson, working with Troy is a genuine opportunity to experience his coaching philosophy, get a feel for what Clemson Rugby demands, and build a relationship with the program before making any decisions. That's a real advantage — and it's offered to any serious athlete, not just Clemson targets.
Troy Hall Coaching operates independently of Clemson University. Recruiting inquiries should be directed through official Clemson Rugby channels.