NEXT MEETUP: Rugby Tens in Irvine this November and Algarve 7s in Portugal next June!
Originally from Cape Town, South Africa, Dallen Stanford is a former USA Rugby Sevens international turned world-renowned rugby commentator.
With a career spanning more than two decades, he has helped shape the sport’s global storytelling and inspire new audiences around the world.
Stanford’s uniqueness lies in his rare combination of insight, humor, and unmistakable charm.
Whether he’s unpacking the nuances of a rugby match or delivering a line that has fans laughing, his infectious enthusiasm and lively wit turn every broadcast into great entertainment!
Over the past 15 years, Stanford has become one of the leading voices in international rugby broadcasting, commentating for World Rugby, CBS Sports, ESPN, Fox Sports, Peacock TV, FloRugby, and other global outlets. His broadcasting resume includes:
and 2019 Japan 
and 2018 San Francisco 
In 2019, Stanford made history as the first American and first South African to join the World Rugby global feed as a Rugby World Cup lead commentator, calling 10 matches in Japan alongside former Springbok and Rugby World Cup winner Joel Stransky and former Argentina 7s sensation and Olympic 7s Coach Santiago Gomez-Cora.
Stanford also commentated the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, broadcasting 11 matches with Olympian and former England Sevens captain Tom Mitchell and Australian broadcaster Nat Yoannidis, including the iconic Springboks versus Ireland pool clash at Stade de France in front of 78,500 fans.
Other highlights include calling the All Blacks vs USA at FedEx Field in Washington, D.C., Ireland vs Italy at Soldier Field in Chicago, and the Springboks vs Wales at RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C.
From 2007 to 2009, Stanford represented the USA Eagles on the World Rugby Sevens Series, earning 49 consecutive caps and helping the United States secure core-nation status on the circuit. During 2006 he represented the USA Eagles in warm-up events, taking part in the Singapore 7s and winning the Bangkok 7s.
He also played a key role in the USA’s victory over Canada at the Sevens World Cup Qualifiers in the Bahamas and served as a traveling reserve for the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens in Dubai.
In total, he appeared in 54 matches across 12 World Rugby Sevens Series events and captained Team USA on several occasions. His favorite stops on the circuit included the legendary Hong Kong 7s, a packed Westpac Stadium for the Wellington 7s in New Zealand, the USA 7s in San Diego at Petco Park, and the South African 7s in George.
Stanford captained Team USA to an historic Gold in 7s and Bronze in XVs at the 2013 Maccabiah Games in Israel, earning MVP honors in the inaugural 7s competition.
At the 2015 Pan American Maccabi Games in Chile he served as player/coach, winning Gold in 7s and Silver in XVs. He was also one of the flag bearers for Team USA during the opening ceremonies.
In 2023, he was inducted into the Maccabi USA Rugby Hall of Fame in Chicago.
Stanford first made his mark on the rugby field at Rondebosch Boys’ High School, playing alongside future Springboks Gcobani Bobo and Hanyani Shimange. His 1997 Rondebosch 1st XV was ranked eighth in the country, remaining undefeated against traditional rivals Bishops, SACS, Wynberg, Paul Roos, Paarl Boys’, and Boland Landbou.
Stanford studied Marketing and Advertising at Cape Peninsula University of Technology (CPUT) Cape Town, and played rugby for the University of Cape Town (Ikey Tigers), where he captained the U21A team to an undefeated season in 2000, the first time that had happened since 1967.
Known not only for his big hits on the field, Stanford made headlines off it — famously tackling current Springbok coach Nick Mallett at a UCT Sports Awards dinner, after accepting a dare from one of his teammates.
From 1999 to 2002, he represented the UCT 1st XV, with one of the most memorable highlights being an 8–8 Intervarsity draw against Stellenbosch University (Maties) inside a packed Danie Craven Stadium in Stellenbosch — followed by a famous 34–24 victory at UCT’s Green Mile in the return fixture during 2002. He also joined UCT’s 2003 tour of England, playing against the historic Oxford University and Cambridge University.
Stanford is a proud alumnus of the Nadoes UCT Internal League team.
After emigrating to the United States, Stanford played for:
Occidental Olde Boys (2003–2006)
Belmont Shore RFC (2007–2010) – winning the 2007 Super League Championship
Austin Huns RFC (2011)
In sevens, he led the Oxy Tigers to a top-5 finish at the 2006 USA Rugby Club 7s Nationals — becoming the tournament’s Top Point Scorer. At Belmont Shore, he helped win the 2009 National Club 7s Championship, and the team also reached the finals in 2008 and 2010.
He has represented elite invitational teams such as Atlantis Rugby, Tiger Rugby, and Pacific Coast Grizzlies in tournaments including Rome 7s (Italy), Cancun 7s (Mexico), Nelson Mandela Bay 7s (South Africa), Benidorm 7s (Spain), RugbyTown 7s (USA) and the Hong Kong 10s (Hong Kong China).
For more than 20 years, Stanford has played touch rugby on the sands of Santa Monica with the legendary BeachBoks in Southern California. In 2025, he relocated to San Diego, where he now runs out with the Del Mar Hoodz.
Olympic 7s Gold Medalist and World Rugby Player of the Year, Antoine Dupont even joined the Beachboks for a run!
Beyond the mic, Stanford is well known for contributing to the sport in many media and developmental roles:
Stanford has coached at various levels, including:
In 2025, Stanford launched his own broadcasting business, dedicated to training and mentoring the next generation of rugby commentators. Through group courses, one-on-one coaching, and personalized mentoring, he has guided aspiring broadcasters from around the world—sharing his expertise, passion, and trademark enthusiasm with rugby’s future voices.
The comprehensive, interactive course was developed in partnership with the Rugby Tens Championship which also offers an annual prize: one outstanding participant earns the opportunity to commentate alongside Dallen at a Rugby Tens event!
Other leading organizations, including Rugby Academy Ireland and MacDowell Rugby in Canada, have partnered with him to deliver industry-focused broadcasting and media training to their students.
Dallen Stanford’s rise from international player to respected play-by-play broadcaster has been showcased in numerous media outlets, illustrating both his personal evolution and his impact on the rugby world.
Together, these features paint a full picture of his diverse career and his ongoing contributions to the global game.
This article delves into Dallen’s early life in South Africa, his rugby career, and his transition into broadcasting, offering insights into his personal and professional growth.
This feature explores Dallen’s journey from USA 7s standout to Rugby World Cup commentator, highlighting his dedication and passion for the sport.
