Rugby Utah Names Malcolm Hood as Director of International Relations
Rugby Utah Release
RUGBY UTAH NAMES MALCOLM W. HOOD, FORMER NEW ZEALAND ALL BLACKS PHYSICAL THERAPIST AND TRAINER AS ITS DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
September 12, 2016 – Salt Lake City, Utah – Rugby Utah, the state’s officially recognized Geographic Rugby Organization announced today that Malcolm M. Hood, former physical therapist, and trainer of the world famous New Zealand All Blacks, has joined Rugby Utah as its Director of international relations. Hood will serve as a senior international strategic advisor tasked with helping build as well as maintain existing international relationships Rugby Utah has with principal international rugby bodies and individuals, including former members of the New Zealand All Blacks.
Hood brings to Rugby Utah specialized international rugby knowledge, with the ability to develop key relationships at the upper echelons of professional, international rugby, notably those in the number one rugby nation in the world, New Zealand.
“To have someone of Malcolm’s caliber join us is significant and endorses what Rugby Utah is doing stateside and is starting to do internationally,” said Rugby Utah chief executive officer Ken Rivera. “Malcolm’s experience, as well as his relationships with prominent figures in the international rugby community, will enable Rugby Utah to nurture and develop its international relationships, which is crucial to developing the game here in the United States.”
Hood confirmed his excitement and support for Rugby Utah and what is it doing to grow the game of rugby in the United States:
“I have seen the growth and development of the game of rugby in the United States and believe that it can become a pre-eminent, professional sport there, and in particular, Utah.” Hood added, “During my visits to Utah to conduct training events on behalf of Rugby Utah, I have met with Ken and his partners and believe they have the vision and ability to unite the various stakeholders and grow Rugby into a fully-fledged professional sport, like it is here in New Zealand. I look forward to supporting Rugby Utah internationally.”
Hood began his rugby career as the physical therapist and trainer for New Zealand provincial rugby team, Counties-Manukau. This was followed by a six-year stint with the All Blacks, where he toured the rugby world, and developed relationships with major rugby organizations and individuals in England, South Africa, and Australia, to name a few. More recently, Hood has provided training for the Tongan and Russian National rugby teams as well as endurance and strength training elite special forces soldiers in New Zealand.
Hood is also the published author of the popular sports medicine book, ‘Preparation, Performance, Patch-Up’, and founder and chairman of Decision Reach Out (Toro Mai) Trust, a non-profit organization, which in association with New Zealand Police, identifies and trains and develops school aged youth with outstanding leadership potential.
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About Rugby Utah
Rugby Utah Ventures, LLC (RU) is the official Recognized Geographic Rugby Organization for USA Rugby and focuses on aggregating the strengths of rugby in the state of Utah, from the youth to the elite levels. The goal of RU is to unify rugby within the state through high-performance programs like the Olympic Development Academy and Community programs like the Rugby Business Network, Touch Rugby League, and A 2nd Try Foundation. With these programs already producing positive results on and off the pitch the “United State of Rugby” looks to develop the most elite rugby players, coaches, and referees and to develop the economic engines necessary to build and strengthen America’s rugby culture. For more information, visit http://www.rugbyutah.com #UnitedStateofRugby
