Meet The Team: Coach Nic Benson

Nic Benson joins the Stars Rugby 7s coaching staff as a result of our Stars Rugby XVs match vs the Capital Rugby Union 3 weeks ago. Stars Coach Toga Fanueli (Calgary '15, Las Vegas '16, Vancouver '16) also serves as the head coach of the Capital women's team; he strongly recommended that Nic join our staff.  In a bit of reversal of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em" as the Capital centers were a dominant force in the match, it was an easy decision to invite Nic to the staff.

After an hour long phone call last week about our shared passion for the sport of rugby as well as the administrative/media/partnership/sponsorship aspects of running a side like Stars - Nic enrolled at San Diego State for their MBA program in Sports Management - Nic's offer was solodified. He is joining Stars Rugby 7s for the Las Vegas Invitational next week and tournaments beyond. Nic will be supporting all 4 of our Elite teams in Las Vegas and assisting the lead coaches with video analysis, player feedback, and game tactics as well as scouting opposition.

Here's more from Nic in his own words:

Nic has played and coached rugby for more than 20 years. After getting his start at the grade level in Kenya and the UK, he went on to play at Florida State University. He spent the last three years as head backs coach for the Washington Renegades and served as backs coach for the Capital Rugby Union Women's Select Side. Recently relocated to San Diego, Nic is an assistant coach with the Old Aztecs. 

Nic started coaching while he was recovering from an injury and enjoyed teaching the game and helping players develop so much that he never went back.  He is excited to get to know the Stars Family, help provide much needed opportunities for developing players in the US, and to learn from the elite and talented coaches on the Stars team.