Stanford Rugby Abroad: Perspectives from New Zealand
This past summer, two of our student-athletes—Taki Rifai '27 and Vivian Studdert '28—spent six weeks in Christchurch, New Zealand, training with the Crusaders International Academy. Immersed in one of the most storied rugby environments in the world, they lived with host families, trained daily under professional coaches, and competed with local clubs.
Their experiences stretched far beyond rugby: they discovered new cultures, forged lifelong friendships, and found fresh perspectives on resilience, teamwork, and growth. What follows is a reflection—a day in the life with the Crusaders from Taki's point of view. Read Vivian's story of the unexpected lessons and adventures that made her time abroad unforgettable.
A Day in the Life at the Crusaders International Academy
By Taki Rifai, Class of 2027
8:15 a.m. First alarm of the day. 8:16 a.m. First snooze of the day—accompanied by a tasteful grunt. After a cold shower to wake myself up and calm the soreness in every muscle, I power through my overnight oats and head to the Academy by 8:45 a.m.
I'm greeted with half-asleep banter and a round of fist bumps before we kick off the day. We always begin with a quick meeting to review the goals for the session and any specific points of focus. Then it's straight into the gym, where Ash—always full of energy—leads us through the daily workout.
By late morning, we're back upstairs at the Academy. Some guys review film, others dive into lunch, and a few just sprawl out to rest. My favorite part of this downtime was looking out over the pros training right below us—the attention to detail, the way they hold each other accountable, and the constant physicality and effort. It was inspiring to watch.
At 12:45 p.m. we head to the pitch for rugby training with Grant Keenan, Director of the Crusaders International Academy. Each day has its theme: Mondays are for position-specific work, Tuesdays for tackle technique, Wednesdays for defense, and Thursdays for attack. No matter the focus, training always starts with the same simple exercises emphasizing "first touch" principles—staying square, scanning, and maximizing time on the ball. These small details were, in my opinion, the most instructive part of the course and my biggest takeaway.
From there, we'd move into more specific drills, sometimes splitting backs and forwards, sometimes all together. My favorite sessions were the position-specific drills, especially when Canterbury scrum half Riley Williams joined us to share insights on box kicking.
The real difference between this program and training back home wasn't the exercises—it was the mindset. Before each drill, we refocused on session objectives and past takeaways, ensuring every rep had meaning. On Wednesdays we even had classes on topics like mental fortitude and work-life balance. I'll admit I would've scoffed at breathing exercises before, but learning to re-focus and be mindful was a game-changer for me.
Fridays were "fundays." No rugby, just playful competition—like catching five high balls at once or playing volleyball with a massive medicine ball. While the rugby-specific value might not have been obvious, the fun, laughter, and teamwork made it one of the highlights of the week.
In the evenings, I trained with New Brighton RFC twice a week. Coach Robertson would drive me and a few other players to practice, where we quickly bonded with the team. Training there was less about breaking down technique and more about fitness, speed, and playing together—fast-paced drills wrapped in ball handling and game play. The camaraderie was the real takeaway; nights with the team were always a highlight (often centered around calm, structured debates about the state of global politics).
After long days, I'd return to my homestay where Jayne, my host mom, always had a delicious dinner waiting. Her dog Kaia—extremely hairy, extremely playful—was also always there to greet me. After a shower and a lint-roller session, I'd usually tell myself that tonight I'd be productive and finally send those long-overdue messages sitting in my drafts. Inevitably, I'd fall into the deepest sleep instead.
And then, we were back at it again the next day.
