BATTLE INSPIRES USA RUGBY ACADEMY!

Kevin Battle (on right) attempts to unmount a camel in the Dubai desert while Taku 'Z' Ngwenya shouts for help.

University of California Santa Barbara director of rugby Kevin Battle has unveiled plans to set up a rugby academy at Santa Barbara City College starting this fall. Battle, as part of his job with the university as director of rugby, formulated the academy plan to use rugby as a way to motivate kids to plan their transfer to a four-year college with more success. “The players will be taken care of as if they were varsity athletes,” said Battle. Students will train in rugby four days a week, and play as a team on occasion, or at other times play in club or UCSB C-side games. But more important than that will be the study hall, access to tutors, academic counseling, and ongoing academic tracking. “The central aspect of this is preparing the students to transfer on to a four-year school,” said Battle. “Obviously UCSB wants them to transfer to UCSB, but wherever they go, we want to put them in the best position to succeed. We help them in selecting the right classes, and also in what order to take those classes, because that’s just as important.” The academy will track students’ class attendance and academic performance. On the field, they will receive coaching from Battle, Jim Love (New Zealand Sports Academy), Damian Hill (Newcastle Knights kicking coach), and Alan Muir (scrum coach, Wellington, NZ).

Battle has 24 students committed for the 30 spots available. This academy is currently for men only, but Battle hopes to expand it to a women’s academy as well. Some of the students will combine their rugby academy experience with playing football at Santa Barbara City College, as well. “They come from all walks of life,” said Battle. “But they have all played rugby in high school.” The group does already have a couple of games on their schedule, including the New Zealand Institute of Sport in September. Battle said he is also willing to discuss how he put together this plan for any other college coaches or program directors who are interested.

Information on the Santa Barbara Rugby Academy can be found here.