The Inform Perform Podcast is an industry show focussed on Sports Performance and Sports Medicine. The show interviews thought leaders and professionals that support elite athletes and teams. The aim of the show is to deconstruct the strategies and philosophies the guests utilise in their working environment or area of expertise. Featured guests have worked across the NBA, NFL, MLB, F1, World title Boxing, EPL and more.
Episodes
Monday Jan 19, 2026
Monday Jan 19, 2026
Episode 208: In this episode, Andy McDonald is joined by Jake Gillies, Lead Sports Scientist at Bristol Bears Rugby, working at the sharp end of performance data integration within English Premiership rugby.
Jake’s role centres on quantifying the physical demands of match play and translating performance technology outputs into actionable training decisions. Prior to joining the Bears, he worked as a Sports Scientist at Harlequins Rugby, alongside experience as a Strength & Conditioning coach in the British Basketball League (BBL) — giving him a broad, cross-sport perspective on how data should (and shouldn’t) be used.
Across the conversation, Jake breaks down what it really means to turn data into action. He explores how practitioners can move beyond numbers for numbers’ sake, contextualise information within rehab and performance environments, and ensure that data serves decision-making rather than complicating it. The discussion highlights the importance of athlete intent, flexible testing frameworks, and clear visualisation when bridging the gap between rehabilitation and match performance.
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Topics Discussed:
• Turning data into action
• Contextualising data in rehabilitation
• Managing complexity in rehab objectives
• Insights vs. information in sports science
• The importance of good data in rehab settings
• Athlete intent & performance metrics
• Flexibility in testing protocols
• Effective data visualisation & dashboards
• Bridging the gap between rehab and match performance
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Where you can find Jake:
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Sponsors
VALD Performance, makers of the Nordbord, Forceframe, ForeDecks and HumanTrak. VALD Performance systems are built with the high-performance practitioner in mind, translating traditionally lab-based technologies into engaging, quick, easy-to-use tools for daily testing, monitoring and training
Hytro: The world’s leading Blood Flow Restriction (BFR) wearable, designed to accelerate recovery and maximise athletic potential using Hytro BFR for Professional Sport.
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Our Team
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