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Overview
In this episode of the With You! Rugby Podcast, host John Hampton sits down with Kevin Battle, an inductee into the US Rugby Foundation Hall of Fame Class of 2026. Kevin's story is one of a lifelong rugby journey that began with a chance encounter with the sport in college and grew into decades of transformative service to the game.
The conversation traces Kevin's path from a nomadic athletic youth who bounced between schools and sports, to a college player who discovered rugby almost by accident, to a coach, administrator, and builder who shaped the landscape of American rugby from the ground up. From the Santa Barbara Rugby Academy to the national team level across three World Cups, to the founding days of Major League Rugby, Kevin's fingerprints are on nearly every major chapter of US rugby over the past 30 years. Through it all, the thread running beneath every story is the same: a love for the game and an unshakeable commitment to giving young people a pathway into it.
Show Notes
[0:14] Introduction to the With You! Rugby Podcast and a preview of the Hall of Fame Week festivities in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
[0:37] Event Spotlight: The Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony takes place Friday, August 14th at the Renaissance Fort Lauderdale Marina Hotel, followed by the USA vs. Argentina men's test match on Saturday night.
[1:13] John introduces Kevin Battle, long-time friend and Hall of Fame Class of 2026 inductee, reflecting on Kevin's three-decade impact on the sport.
[2:16] Kevin's early life and athletic background, a kid who moved often, played multiple sports, and didn't find rugby until college.
[8:26] The moment rugby found Kevin, welcomed into the sport the way only rugby can welcome someone.
[14:07] Kevin's playing days at Westmont, excelling in both fifteens and sevens, and earning All-American recognition.
[19:32] The transition from player to coach and administrator, and how Kevin got pulled into the leadership side of the game.
[25:30] The founding of the Santa Barbara Rugby Academy and Kevin's mission to use rugby as a vehicle for youth opportunity, influencing thousands of young people who might never have found the sport otherwise.
[36:21] Kevin's tenure at the national team level, spanning 12 years and three Rugby World Cups.
[38:47] Kevin's involvement in the early formation of Major League Rugby, another landmark chapter in US rugby history.
[46:17] Looking ahead, what's next for Kevin Battle in the coming years.
[50:32] John and Kevin land on a single word to define Kevin's rugby life: love.
Wrap Up
John closes the episode by honoring Kevin not just as a Hall of Famer, but as one of the most influential figures in the history of US rugby. The invitation is open to everyone: join the celebration on Friday, August 14th in Fort Lauderdale as Kevin Battle and the rest of the Class of 2026 are officially inducted into the US Rugby Foundation Hall of Fame.
