Dallen Stanford
Dallen Stanford played for the USA Eagles from 2007-2009 on the Sevens World Series, including being a traveling reserve for the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai. He played in 49 consecutive matches for the United States, including the Rugby World Cup Sevens Qualifiers in the Bahamas, and was part of the squad that ensured the Eagles become a core nation on the Sevens World Series.
Stanford – who is from Cape Town, South Africa – started his rugby journey at Rondebosch Boys’ High School, going on to captain the University of Cape Town (Ikey Tigers) u21A to a rare undefeated season in 2000. He played three years for the Ikey Tiger 1st XV including touring England playing the famous Oxford and Cambridge Universities in 2003.
After emigrating to the United States, Stanford played for the Occidental Olde Boys in Los Angeles then joined Belmont Shore RFC and was a part of the Super League Championship team in 2007. In sevens, he led the Oxy Tigers to their first ever Club 7s National Championship qualification in 2006 – where they finished 5th in the nation – with Stanford being the tournament’s top point scorer. At Belmont Shore he was part of the first ever Club 7s National Championship victory in 2009, as well as being runners-up in 2008 and 2010.
Stanford has worked in many different roles in rugby, including being the Media Manager for the USA Eagles at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand and the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Russia. He was the Los Angeles Program Director for Play Rugby USA, growing the program from 6 to over 100 schools in the region, receiving the Athletes in Excellence Award in recognition of his community service efforts.
In the past decade Stanford has become an international play by play rugby commentator, covering the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, the 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens in South Africa and the 2018 Rugby World Cup Sevens in USA. He is one of the lead commentators for the Sevens World Series, Super Rugby Americas, Major League Rugby, Premier Rugby Sevens, Rugby Tens Championship, Rugby Europe Championship, Rugby Europe Super Cup and has appeared on CBS Sports Network, ESPN, Fox Sports and several other networks.
Connection to Maccabi USA Rugby
Stanford represented Team USA at the 2013 World Maccabiah Games in Israel, captaining the USA Rugby squad to Gold in 7s and Bronze in XVs. He was named MVP of the 7s tournament and joined the likes of USA Eagles Zack Test and Kevin Swiryn as the most recent Jewish USA 7s internationals. In 2015, Stanford represented Team USA Rugby as a player/coach at the 13th Pan American Maccabi Games in Santiago, Chile, winning Gold in 7s and Silver in XVs. He was chosen as one of the three flag bearers for the Opening Ceremonies for the USA delegate.
