Know you
Your sport, position, training history, weekly schedule and what you want to change.
PAD / Strength & conditioning
Human first. Athlete second.
Systems for strength, speed, testing and return to performance, refined in professional sport and applied to every athlete who walks through our door.
Trusted across the industry.
Teams & performance environments
Vision and purpose
Performance starts with connection.
Our mission is to empower athletes of all ages and levels to unlock their full potential through high-performance, evidence-based training that builds strength, speed and resilience.
We lead with a human-first, athlete-second approach, because real performance starts with connection, trust and understanding. We stand on the shoulders of those who paved the way before us, and we carry their legacy by serving the community and guiding the next generation.
Through personalised coaching, in person and online, we blend science, culture and connection to shape athletes who thrive in sport and in life.
Our story →How we coach
Same standard. Every level.
The programme changes with the athlete, from school grounds to professional contracts, but the decision making process never does, and every new block builds on the lessons of the last.
Test
Strength numbers, MAS and the markers that matter for your position, so every block has a baseline.
Plan
Build every block around your calendar, your goals and what testing showed, with one clear priority at a time.
Coach
Hands-on coaching with clear cues, honest feedback and the reason behind every rep, so nothing is guesswork.
Review
Retest, see what moved, keep what works and raise the standard for the next block.
Know you → Test → Plan → Coach → Review. Then go again, stronger.
Ways to work with us.
Six ways in
01By application
Full Athlete Development
Individualised physical preparation for serious athletes in Auckland. Built around your sport, position, training history and competition demands.
Explore full athlete development →02Auckland
Return to Play
Bridge rehabilitation and full sport performance by rebuilding the strength, running, speed, change of direction and conditioning demands your sport asks of you once rehab is done.
Explore return to play →03Online
Personalised Online Training
Your programme delivered through the Everfit app, built around your sport, schedule and equipment. Train anywhere.
Explore online training →04Everfit app
Year-Round Programming
A full year of rugby training in the Everfit app, following the real southern hemisphere season. Join any day and start on today's session.
Explore year-round programming →05Drop in
Drop-In Session
Casual coached group sessions you can drop into when it suits. Strength, speed and conditioning with a crew that pushes you.
Monday and Wednesday gym sessions, 6:45pm
Explore drop-in sessions →06One-off
1:1 In-Person Session
A personal training session of up to 60 minutes, one on one with Marlon. Great for technique work, a one-off session or getting started.
Book a session →The coach
Meet Marlon Purcell.
I came through as an athlete first: Parramatta Eels U20s, Warriors NSW Cup and a 2–0 record in MMA. Since then I've coached from grassroots to international rugby, and PAD is how I bring that standard to every athlete who walks in.
“Coach the person in front of you. The athlete follows.”
Marlon Purcell, founder
Portrait of Marlon, on the field or coaching
Real athletes. Real work.
Featured athletes
Purcell Athlete Development
Ready to work?
Pick the option that matches where you are now, then we build from there.
About · Marlon Purcell
Human first. Athlete second.
Purcell Athlete Development brings professional preparation to athletes outside professional environments, without losing the person in the process.
Portrait of Marlon
The founder
Marlon Purcell.
Former Eels U20sWarriors NSW CupMMA 2–0
I came through as an athlete first: Parramatta Eels U20s, Warriors NSW Cup, and a 2–0 record in MMA, before moving into coaching full time. I know what these programmes ask of you, because I've been the one doing them.
I work with athletes from grassroots all the way to professional. I've coached across professional environments including the One New Zealand Warriors, Auckland Rugby League, Auckland Rugby, Moana Pasifika and Manu Samoa, where I worked as Sports Scientist and Strength and Conditioning Coach.
Purcell Athlete Development is where that work reaches everyone else: the club player, the school kid with a pathway in front of them, and the athlete who has never had a programme written properly for them.
“Coach the person in front of you. The athlete follows.”
Coaching philosophy
What we build
Ready for the contact. Ready for the season.
Rugby asks for strength, speed and the engine to repeat both late in a game. Every programme is built from those demands, then fitted to the athlete.
Strength
The base everything else sits on. Built with tested numbers and percentage-based loading.
Speed and power
Acceleration, top speed and explosive work that carries over to the field.
Conditioning
Running prescribed from your MAS, so the work matches the metres you actually cover.
Robustness
Eccentric, landing and contact preparation so you stay available all season.
How we coach
Same process. Every level.
A school athlete and a contracted player get different programmes. The way decisions are made stays the same.
Get to know you
Your sport, position, history, schedule and what you want to change.
Test
Strength numbers, MAS and the markers that matter for your position.
Plan the season
Build each block around your calendar and goals, with one clear priority at a time.
Coach the work
Every session has a purpose, and you know what it is.
Review and progress
Retest, adjust and raise the standard for the next block.
Find the right way in.
In-person coaching, return to play, online training, year-round programming, drop-in sessions or a one-off 1:1. Start with where you are now.
Full Athlete Development · Auckland · By application
Coached around you.
Individual coaching for athletes ready to commit. Your programme is built around your sport, your position and your season, and every session is coached.
The difference
Training hard isn't training right.
Plenty of athletes train hard. Far fewer train in a way that connects week to week and builds toward the games that matter.
Full Athlete Development joins your gym work to your team training, your games and your season. Priorities shift as the year moves, from building in the off-season to staying sharp in-season, but the standard doesn't move.
You're coached through the process, not handed a sheet and left to guess.
What we train
What your sport asks for.
Strength
Tested, then built with percentage-based loading you can track.
Power
Turning strength into explosive movement for contact and acceleration.
Speed
Acceleration and top-speed exposure placed around team training.
Conditioning
MAS-based running matched to your position's demands.
Robustness
Eccentric and contact preparation to keep you on the field.
How it works
From application to progress.
Apply
Tell us about you, your sport and your goals.
Chat
A conversation to check we're the right fit for each other.
Test
We set your starting numbers so every block has a baseline.
Train
Coached sessions in Auckland, with your programme in the app.
Review
Regular check-ins, retesting and the next block written from what changed.
Is it right for you?
Built for athletes who commit.
A good fit if you
- Want to be coached in person in Auckland
- Can commit to a consistent weekly routine
- Have a level or selection you're working toward
- Want to understand why you're doing the work
Look elsewhere if you
- Want casual drop-in sessions (try a drop-in session)
- Train away from Auckland (try online training)
- Are still in early injury rehab. Start with your physio first.
Investment
Invest in the work.
Full Athlete Development
- Individual programme built around your sport and season
- Coached sessions in Auckland
- Testing and retesting
- Programme delivered in the Everfit app
- Direct access to Marlon between sessions
By application. Places are limited and depend on fit and coaching capacity.
Full Athlete Development
Proof from the floor.
Application
Tell us about the athlete.
The more context you give, the better the first conversation. A few honest sentences is plenty.
Year-Round Programming · Everfit app
One programme. All year.
A full year of rugby training in the Everfit app, written against the real southern hemisphere season. Join any day and start on today's session, not week one.
Why it's different
Built on the calendar. Not a countdown.
Most online programmes start everyone at week one, whatever time of year it is. That's how you end up doing an off-season hypertrophy block in the middle of your season.
Your programme is written against real dates. If you join in July, you get July's in-season training. If you join in October, you start the off-season with everyone else.
You see one week ahead, and the next day unlocks as each one passes, so you always know what's coming without getting lost in the whole year.
The season
Three phases. One year.
Built around the southern hemisphere rugby season.
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Nov to FebPre-seasonStrength, power, speed
Mar to SepIn-seasonBlocks with deload weeks
Sep to NovOff-seasonBuild and condition
Phase dates are a guide and can be adjusted based on your season.
Pre-season Nov to Feb
Strength turns into power. Speed work and anaerobic conditioning get you match-ready.
In-season Mar to Sep
Training blocks with planned deload weeks, so you stay strong and fresh through to finals.
Off-season Sep to Nov
Higher-intensity weight training to build muscle and strength, plus aerobic conditioning to raise your base.
How it works
From sign-up to session one.
Pick your planChoose 1, 3 or 6 months below.
Pay securelyCheckout runs through Everfit and Stripe.
Create your loginSet a password straight after paying.
Download EverfitFrom the App Store or Google Play, same login.
Start trainingToday's session and a welcome message are waiting.
Is it right for you?
For athletes who back themselves.
A good fit if you
- Train on your own schedule, anywhere
- Have access to a gym
- Can follow a programme without a coach in the room
- Want structure that follows your season
Choose something more personal if you
- Want a programme written just for you
- Want coached sessions in person
- Want someone driving your week day to day
Choose your plan
Commit longer. Pay less.
1 month
- Year-round programme in the Everfit app
- New sessions unlock every day
- Welcome message and setup
Most popular
3 months
- Everything in 1 month
- A full training phase start to finish
- About $45 a month, save nearly $15
6 months
- Everything in 3 months
- Two full phases back to back
- About $41.67 a month, save nearly $50
All prices are in NZD. Checkout opens securely on Everfit.
Questions
Before you sign up.
Which app is the training in?
Everfit, free on the App Store and Google Play. You log in with the same email and password you create at checkout. You can also use it in a web browser.
When I join, where do I start?
On today's session. The programme is written against real calendar dates, so you join the season wherever it is, not at the beginning.
Can I see the whole year?
You see one week ahead. Each day the next session unlocks, so you always know what's coming up.
What equipment do I need?
A gym with a squat rack, barbell, plates and dumbbells covers almost everything. You'll also need space to run for conditioning.
Is it written just for me?
No. Year-Round Programming is one programme that follows the rugby season for everyone on it. If you want a programme built around you, choose Personalised Online Training. If you want coached sessions in person as well, Full Athlete Development is the better option.
Personalised Online Training · Everfit app
Your programme. Anywhere.
A programme written for you and delivered through the Everfit app. Built around your sport, position, schedule and equipment, with Marlon checking in as you go.
What you get
Built for you. Not a template.
Your programme starts with you: your goals, your sport, your position, the days you can train and the equipment you have. Every session is written to fit that, not copied from someone else's plan.
Your training is reviewed, your technique is refined and the next block is adjusted based on how the last one went.
How it works
From first chat to first session.
Tell us about youFill in the form below with your sport and goals.
Quick chatWe make sure it's the right fit and set your priorities.
Programme builtWritten around your schedule and equipment.
Train in EverfitSessions, videos and notes in one app.
Check inRegular reviews keep the programme moving with you.
Is it right for you?
Coached remotely. Built around you.
A good fit if you
- Want a programme written for you
- Train on your own schedule, anywhere
- Like feedback and accountability from a coach
- Can train without a coach in the room
Something else might suit if you
- Want coached sessions in person
- Just want a structured plan that follows the season
Get started
Tell us about your training.
A few honest sentences is plenty. We'll be in touch to set up your programme.
Return to Play · Auckland
Back on the field. Ready for it.
Rehab gets you healthy. Return to Play rebuilds the strength, running, speed and conditioning your sport asks for, so you go back to full training ready, not just cleared.
The gap
Pain-free isn't match fit.
You can finish rehab, be cleared to progress and still be a long way from the speed, contact and repeat efforts of a full game.
Return to Play bridges that gap. We find what's still missing, rebuild it step by step and expose you to the demands of your sport before you're asked to perform them on a Saturday.
What we rebuild
Everything rehab doesn't reach.
Strength
Rebuild force on both sides, including any left to right differences.
Running
Build running volume back up to what your position needs.
Speed
Reintroduce acceleration and top-speed running when you're ready for it.
Change of direction
Braking, cutting and stepping, progressed from controlled to game speed.
Conditioning
The engine to repeat high-intensity work, not just produce one good effort.
The pathway
Step by step. Earned, not rushed.
Assess
Find out what you can do now and what your sport still asks of you.
Rebuild
Train the qualities that need work, inside the guidance your physio has set.
Expose
Add running, speed and direction change as you earn each step.
Return
Close the gap to full team training and competition.
Return to Play works alongside your physio or doctor, and we have our own physio who can work with them on your rehab. Our coaching doesn't diagnose injuries, provide medical treatment or clear you to play. That decision stays with your health professional.
Investment
Pick your starting point.
Initial assessment
- Where you are now, measured
- Review of what your sport demands
- A clear plan for the next step
Ongoing coaching
- Individual return programme
- Running, speed and direction change progressed as you're ready
- Regular review alongside your physio
Prices in NZD. Ongoing coaching runs alongside appropriate medical or rehab guidance.
Enquiry
Tell us where you're at.
Please don't send medical records or scans here. We'll talk with your physio separately if needed.
1:1 In-Person Session · Auckland
One hour. All yours.
A personal training session of up to 60 minutes, one on one with Marlon. No commitment, no package. Book a session when you need one.
What it's good for
Use the hour your way.
Technique
Clean up your squat, hinge, Olympic lifts or sprint mechanics with hands-on coaching.
Getting started
New to structured training? Learn the basics properly before you go it alone.
A programme check
Bring your current programme and we'll make sure it fits your sport and season.
A hard session
Sometimes you just want to be pushed by someone who knows what they're doing.
Book
Book your session.
Tell us what you'd like to work on and when suits. We'll confirm a time.
Drop-In Session · Auckland
Drop in. Raise the standard.
Casual coached group sessions you can drop into when it suits. No contract, no commitment. Turn up, get coached and train with people who want to get better.
Monday and Wednesday gym sessions, 6:45pm.
What to expect
Coached. Not supervised.
Every session has a plan and a purpose. You'll be coached on technique, pushed on effort and shown why each part of the session matters.
Strength, speed and conditioning rotate through the week, so you build all of it, not just whatever's easiest to programme for a crowd.
Inside a session
How an hour runs.
Prepare
Movement prep and warm-up built for the work ahead.
Speed or power
Fast work while you're fresh: sprints, jumps, throws.
Strength
Main lifts, coached for technique and load.
Condition
Running or circuits matched to rugby's demands.
Times and location
When and where.
Days and timesMonday and Wednesday, 6:45pm (gym session)
Location14a Rennie Drive, Māngere, Auckland
Price
Book
Save your spot.
Tell us a little about you and which session you're after. We'll confirm your spot.
Training Programmes · Self-guided
Train on your own terms.
Ready-built programmes from the same principles used in our coaching. Clear structure, real progressions, instant access.
The library
Programmes with a job to do.
Each one solves a specific problem, so you know exactly what you're buying and what it's for.
Need someone to write the plan around you? Full Athlete Development or Personalised Online Training will suit you better.
Featured athletes
Proof from the field.
Every athlete starts somewhere different. These are the people who did the work.
Every athlete
Every athlete. Every story.
Your story next.
Contact
Let's talk.
Tell us what you play, where you're at and what you're chasing. We read every message and reply honestly, including when we're not the right fit.
Questions
Before you get in touch.
Do I need to be playing at a high level?
No. We coach athletes from grassroots to professional. What matters is that you're ready to commit to the work.
I'm not in Auckland. Can I still train with you?
Yes. Personalised Online Training and Year-Round Programming work anywhere. Full Athlete Development, Return to Play, Drop-In Sessions and 1:1 sessions are in Auckland.
Do you work with young athletes?
Yes. For athletes under 18, a parent or guardian will need to be part of the sign-up.
I'm coming back from injury. Where do I start?
Have a look at Return to Play. It works alongside your physio to get you from rehab back to full training.
Legal
Service and subscription terms.
Draft for review. These terms are written for a New Zealand coaching business. Check them with an adviser before the site goes live, then remove this box.
Who these terms cover
These terms apply to Full Athlete Development, Return to Play, Personalised Online Training, Year-Round Programming, Drop-In Sessions and 1:1 In-Person Sessions from Purcell Athlete Development.
Payments
Online purchases are processed securely through Everfit and Stripe. Recurring plans are charged automatically to the card you provide on the dates shown at checkout. The 3 and 6 month Year-Round Programming plans are paid upfront in full at checkout.
Cancellations
To cancel Personalised Online Training or Year-Round Programming, give at least one week's notice by emailing coach_marz@outlook.com.
Athletes under 18
A parent or guardian must approve the purchase, provide their contact details and take responsibility for payment.
Training and health
We provide strength and conditioning coaching. Our coaching doesn't diagnose injuries or provide medical treatment; that sits with your physio or doctor, or with our physio where you've arranged it. Tell us about any injury or health change that could affect your training.
Results
Every athlete responds differently. We can't guarantee selection, contracts or specific results.
Your rights
Nothing here limits your rights under the Consumer Guarantees Act 1993 or the Fair Trading Act 1986.