Lou Stanfill, USA Rugby Hall of Famer

Lou Stanfill – a Cal rugby Legend, went to 3 Rugby World Cups for the USA Eagles, USA Rugby Hall of Famer, and now a paramedic firefighter in Sacramento. And it all started because he lost a baseball glove.

In this episode, Lou tells the story how losing a baseball glove led to a life changing new sport, what it was like to play for Cal during a run of five straight national titles, and how he found out at 19 that he was joining the Eagles. He talks about the ragtag 2007 World Cup team, his years chasing rugby around the world with little financial gain, and the emotional end of his Eagles career in the 2015 World Cup. He also shares how a Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis, his faith, and coaching shaped life after rugby. To close it out he picks his All-Time XV of Teammates. Yes, he will lose some friends for those picks.

Show notes

About the guest
Lou Stanfill grew up in Sacramento and attended Jesuit High School before playing at Cal. He won five consecutive national championships there and debuted for the USA at 19. He earned 56 caps, played in three Rugby World Cups, captained the Eagles, and is a member of the USA Rugby Hall of Fame.

Topics covered

• How a lost baseball mitt sent Lou to rugby, and what his dad and older brother thought
• Jesuit's rugby culture under coach John Shorey
• Turning down football to play rugby at Cal
• Cal's dominance: what resources and a strong forward pack meant, and why Lou wants to see other college programs rise
• Finding out he'd made the Eagles, and his first tour in Japan
• Two philosophies of the game: set-piece dominance versus skill and decision-making
• The 2007 World Cup in France: the tough pool, the security motorcades, and that famous try against South Africa
• The Eagles' bankrupt-era build-up camp on Alec Parker's ranch
• Living in New York City on a tight budget and playing for NYAC
• Ranch work in Aspen, tens in Manila, and a rough stint in Australia
• Playing in Italy (and how he became "Gigi")
• The 2011 World Cup in New Zealand, and the 2015 World Cup, where he gave everything to the jersey
• Why he committed to four more years each time, chasing what he calls glory
• Life after rugby: coaching at Jesuit, Rugby NorCal, and a late-career run with the San Diego Legion
• His Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis, treatment, and starting the fire academy right after
• Faith, firefighting, and modeling the values he believes in
• Coaching his son, and why coaching matters to him
• His advice for developing players, including a case for going overseas young
• What he wants to see from the Eagles' defense
• Lou's All-Time XV