Level Up Your Rugby Game with an International Experience

Live the Dream - Level Up Your game at New Zealand Camps

I started playing rugby in 1997, and from not knowing what a ruck was to then being named to the USA Rugby All-American team was no easy feat. One thing that made the difference was taking part in a summer program between my first and second year of college, where I played in Australia. There is something about learning from coaches and playing against players who have grown up playing the sport - It's in their blood! When I returned to playing in the States, my rugby IQ had grown exponentially, and my confidence and aggressive nature on the field had come out of my shell. So I wholeheartedly support any student's decision to spend some time (whether that's 2 weeks or a month) playing outside the U.S.

One of my favorite programs to recommend is Inside Running Academy in New Zealand. I've had students participate since 2020, and they always come back with rave reviews.

Inside Running Academy, based in the beach town of Mount Maunganui, continues to provide a range of camp options for US rugby players. “Each year, we see an increasing number of players from the US come to train with us. The US is now our #1 market, with 70 players from the US attending our camps in 2026."

Mike Rogers founded Inside Running Academy in 2010, works for the Super Rugby team the Chiefs, and previously served as Assistant Coach at the New England Free Jacks in the MLR. This has given Mike a unique insight into US rugby culture, which he sees as a real edge for his programs in New Zealand. “Despite its rising popularity, there are still key barriers to player growth within US rugby. From my experience, a key issue for rugby in the US is fractured seasons, geography - the country is just so sparse in terms of rugby- a lack of meaningful competition for many colleges, High Schools, and Clubs, and not enough players to make for truly meaningful practice. Inside Running Academy provides players with the best of both worlds: they are in a highly intensive training environment with world-class coaches and facilities, and additionally, they join a local club or school team where they get to train alongside and play against New Zealand rugby players.”

Additionally, one of the best things about Inside Running Academy is that whether you play 15s, 7s, or both, are playing professionally, or are fairly new to the sport, there is always an opportunity to grow. With high-quality skill and position-specific coaching, team sessions, strength and conditioning, video analysis, nutrition seminars, mental skills workshops and individual development plans, their camps are designed to help every player get the most out of their time at The Academy and develop the skills, habits and mindset to become a better athlete, teammate and all-round player.

Mike has some advice for rugby players when assessing camp options for US players headed overseas: “I totally understand that Inside Running Academy is not for everyone. Committing to come to New Zealand is a big ask for many players, and we get that. For me, the key considerations for players when looking at which camp to attend should really be:

• Will I get meaningful game time? This is critical, in particular, for players from the US who typically play fewer games per year than their NZ or UK counterparts. It’s also a great opportunity to put into practice the skills you are learning, to see where there may be further room for improvement.

• Will the academy trainings be tailored to the areas of the game that I need to develop?

  
  

• Will the strength and conditioning program be tailored specifically to my needs as a rugby player?

  
  

• Will the duration of the academy program really drive a positive change to my training routines?

  
  

Inside Running Academy is offering the following programs in 2026-2027:

For more information on any of Inside Running Academy’s camps, head to their website or book a video call with Mike to discuss things further:

https://www.rugbyacademy.global/

Mike Rogers

WhatsApp +6421784839

Email - mike@insiderunning.com