The Broadcast Academy, founded by World Rugby commentator Dallen Stanford, has announced a landmark partnership with National Collegiate Rugby (NCR) that will see more than 20 graduates of the Rugby Commentary Intensive serve as commentators at the 2026 Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) National 7s, taking place April 24–26, 2026.
The CRC National 7s is the largest collegiate rugby sevens tournament in the United States, bringing together men's and women's teams across multiple divisions — from Premier Cup through Division III — in a nationally prominent, multi-day championship event. Of the 304 matches played that weekend, over 170 will be called by graduates of the Rugby Broadcast Academy. The partnership represents the first time a broadcast education program has supplied trained commentary talent at scale to a major US rugby event.
“This is exactly what the Broadcast Academy was built for,” said Stanford, a 15-year international commentator. “I always try to put my graduates on real microphones at real events. Partnering with NCR to bring over 20 trained voices to the CRC is a defining moment for everyone who has come through this program.”
THE CRC 2026 COMMENTARY TEAM — RUGBY BROADCAST ACADEMY GRADUATES
The following Rugby Broadcast Academy graduates will be calling the action at the 2026 Collegiate Rugby Championship:
Norman Allendorph, Jarrett Bunnin, Catie Charette, Tariro Colin Chawafambira (Zimbabwe), Ciara Clawson, Isabella Corral, Kelson Figaro (UK), John Fitzpatrick, Ryan Gray, John Gulden, Matt Hansen, Charli Jacoby (Hong Kong), Jenni Laferriere, Kenneth Laws, David Lawrence, Kenneth Payne (Barbados), Mark Powell, James Roberts, Rob Sharp, Devin Smiley, Danny Stephens (Europe), and Ike Wrigley.
Among the cohort is USA Eagles player Charli Jacoby, fresh from representing her country at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup — bringing international playing experience to the broadcast booth.
Another recent graduate of the Broadcast Academy, Darian Lovelace will be leading the coverage with the crew of The College Rugby Show.
ABOUT THE RUGBY BROADCAST ACADEMY
Launched to address a critical gap in the global rugby broadcast pipeline, the Rugby Broadcast Academy is a selective, coach-led training program that has attracted more than 200 applicants from 25 countries across six continents. Participants range in age from 14 to 70 — a reflection of rugby's uniquely diverse fan base and the universal appeal of a career in sports broadcasting.
The Rugby Commentary Intensive covers all three core commentary disciplines:
· Play-by-Play Commentary — the moment-by-moment narration of live match action, combining accuracy, pace, and energy to keep audiences connected to every phase of play.
· Color Commentary — expert tactical and contextual analysis that adds depth, storytelling, and personality to a broadcast, helping viewers understand the game within the game.
· Sideline Reporting — live interviews, injury updates, and in-game intelligence delivered from the field, requiring composure, preparation, and quick thinking under pressure.
Graduates have gone on to secure paid broadcast roles across club, collegiate, and international rugby, with alumni calling matches at the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series and the Women's Rugby World Cup — results that reflect a curriculum built around real-world broadcast standards, not classroom theory.
“NCR is committed to growing the game at every level,” NCR CEO, Jeremy Treece, noted, “and that includes building out the broadcast and media experience around our competitions. Having trained, passionate commentators calling national matches elevates the product for fans, schools, and the players themselves.”
ABOUT THE COLLEGIATE RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP
The Collegiate Rugby Championship is NCR's national sevens championship, contested annually across Men's and Women's divisions from Premier Cup through Division III. The 2026 event runs April 24–26, 2026, and is the culmination of automatic qualifier tournaments held throughout the spring season across the United States.
ABOUT NATIONAL COLLEGIATE RUGBY (NCR)
National Collegiate Rugby is the governing body for collegiate rugby in the United States, supporting men's and women's programs across all divisions at universities and colleges nationwide. For more information, visit ncr.rugby.
ABOUT DALLEN STANFORD & THE RUGBY BROADCAST ACADEMY
Dallen Stanford is a World Rugby commentator, former USA Sevens international, and the founder of the Rugby Broadcast Academy. Having grown up in South Africa surrounded by the sport, Dallen went on to earn 54 caps representing the USA on the HSBC Sevens World Series before transitioning into a broadcast career at the highest levels of the game. He is the first American — and the first South African — to serve as a World Rugby lead commentator on the World Feed,, with credits spanning the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, Rugby World Cup 2019 in Japan, the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 in Cape Town and Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018 in San Francisco, 450+ Sevens World Series matches, and 65+ International Test Matches across broadcast partners including CBS Sports, ESPN, Fox Sports, and Peacock TV. He founded the Broadcast Academy to open those same doors for aspiring broadcasters around the globe with the structured training he never had — and the results speak for themselves.
JOIN THE NEXT BROADCAST COMMENTARY INTENSIVE
Want to break into rugby broadcasting or sharpen your on-air skills? The Rugby Broadcast Academy is a hands-on, Zoom-based course designed to help you elevate your rugby commentary — including play-by-play, color commentary, and sideline reporting.
Sessions take place across three Wednesdays in April or May 2026:
· April 2026 — April 15, 22 & 29: 10:00 AM PDT OR 5:00 PM PDT
· May 2026 — May 13, 20 & 27: 10:00 AM PDT OR 5:00 PM PDT
Each Intensive includes:
· 3 live 75-minute sessions with expert feedback
· Access to session recordings and exclusive resources
· Real commentary practice and professional level insights
· Network with working commentators
· Access to paid commentary opportunities
NCR members receive an exclusive 20% discount. Simply include 'NCR' on your registration form and a discount code will be sent to you directly.
The Rugby Broadcast Academy also offers a monthly Mentorship Program — a small group session for those looking for ongoing coaching and career guidance in rugby broadcasting.
For more information, visit dallenstanford.com or email rugby@dallenstanford.com.
