PAKIS CORNER CELEBRATES 13 YEARS!
Pakis Corner - a website about rugby, travel and life - was invented in the year 2000 when creator Dallen Stanford earned his nickname whilst captaining the University of Cape Town (UCT) u21 rugby side to the Eastern Cape. Doctor Neil 'the Boomslang' Barnard is credited with the phrase, and so began the 'Best Night of Your Life'. The Corner is famous for tackling Springbok rugby coach Nic Mallet - who happened to be a guest speaker at a UCT sports function - and ended up actually buying him a drink for the outrageous hit!
Pakis Corner hit the world-wide-web via a local UCT sport's website and soon thereafter secured a massive sponsorship contract with Cape to Rio Cane. The student market exploded onto the scene, and this a period of mayhem for Pakis Corner, whilst completing his degree in Marketing.
After spending 25 sensational years in Cape Town, South Africa, Dallen visited California on a 6-month holiday, and played rugby for the Oxy Olde Boys. Following that FOX Sports World producers Patrick Guthrie and Matt Brown along with Oxy Tigers coach James Walker ensured Dallen gain an additional 18-month work visa for the States.
The rest is history - as the French say - when Dallen met the beautiful Verity Branco. In November 2005 they got married on Malibu beach, with another ceremony for family and friends taking place at Rhodes Memorial on Table Mountain in Cape Town a year later.
Dallen subsequently made the USA 7s side - playing in 54 matches throughout his career spanning from 2006 to 2009, including 13 IRB World Series tournaments and the 2009 Sevens World Cup in Dubai. The Eagle - who always wore the number 10 jersey - played mainly scrumhalf (occasionally flyhalf), setting a record for the most consecutive caps (49) for a USA player in 7s rugby.
He has written for several rugby websites (Ulitmate Rugby 7s, RugbyZone, World Rugby Shop and Rugby IQ), and manages the EaglesXV and Eagles7s Facebook and Twitter pages. He has also appeared on the South African Blitzbokke 7s website. Dallen has also been published in the book "Rugby For Dummies - The official guide to rugby in North America" as well as Rugby Magazine for the preview to both the 2010 and 2011 Las Vegas IRB Sevens tournaments. He was also the half time stadium announcer during the 2010 Las Vegas 7s - interviewing the crowd in the middle of the action. Dallen also appeared on NBC during the 2011 Las Vegas 7s - much to the surprise of Colin Hawley's girlfriend. With the camera on USA 7s player Hawley, who was trying to interview Pakis Corner, the roles were reversed as Dallen exclaimed "He's single and ready to mingle Ladies and Gentleman" on National Television...
Since then Dallen has served as the USA Eagles Team Media Manager at the 2011 Rugby World Cup. This was an unbelievable event - both extremely busy and successful for the media man.
On the coaching front Dallen has been involved with several teams over the past few years, including the Austin Huns, Austin Area High School, the University of Texas, ELITE Rugby, PV Rugby and is currently the Head Coach of the Occidental College Men's Team.
In October 2011 Dallen was appointed the Play Rugby USA Los Angeles Program Manager, overseeing flag rugby to inner city youth kids aged 10 to 16.
He has also been flown back to Austin to help coach the University of Texas (UT Longhorns) ahead of the Collegiate Rugby Championship (CRC) 7s tournament in 2011 and 2012 - which was broadcast on NBC and Universal Sports. Watch some highlights - including a UT try scoring PLANK!
After almost five years in Los Angeles, California, Dallen spent three years in Austin Texas - where Verity gained her Masters in Acting and Theatre from the University of Texas at Austin (UT). Verity has her own blog - the Foodie Girls - which became a major hit only weeks after it started! The couple has moved back to Los Angeles in March 2011 and reside in Santa Monica.
Dallen spent three years working as a Marketing and Sales manager for Future Trends Technology Consulting, after which becoming an Ambassador to the Tackling Cancer Foundation. Click here to read more about Tackling Cancer and become a FAN on FaceBook here.
Dallen Stanford (far right) captains Belmont Shore during the Championship Cup 7s Series at the Las Vegas Mid-Night sevens tournament. Belmont returned for the final - played during the 2010 IRB Las Vegas Sevens tournament - winning the trophy and another $7,500!
Pictured at the 2011 Championship Cup 7s Series in Las Vegas. Get out the Road!
Celebrating with the USA 7s side after winning the Shield trophy in Wellington, New Zealand, during the 2006/2007 IRB World Sevens Series.
The year 2012 saw another dream come true - with Dallen involved in broadcasting as a rugby commentator for Fox Sports Soccer Plus and NBC Universal!
The impressive Infinity Park in Glendale, Colorado, hosted 12 rugby matches in 2012 that were aired on Fox Sports Soccer Plus, Root TV and ABC. Dallen was involved as a sideline commentator, as well as in the booth for these 15s matches, together with doing the International Defense 7s tournament.
Additionally, Dallen worked for NBC Universal for the USA vs. France Women's clash in November, 2012.
Contact Paki's Corner: 10@pakiscorner.com
