Our Staff

Craig Wells

President & Head Coach

Craig was born in Port Kembla on the south coast of NSW, Australia and started playing the sport of Rugby League at the age of six.

By the age of 18 and after a very successful youth Rugby League career at both club and representative level, Craig switched to Rugby Union and received a scholarship to play rugby with the Headingly club in the north of England.

During his time at Headingly, Craig quickly gained 1st XV selection and played against quality opposition including international players from Leicester, Harlequins, and UK powerhouse Bath rugby clubs.

Upon his return to Australia he quickly gained the eye of representative selectors and was brought into the NSW and Australian development system.

Over the next three years Craig's representative honors included:

• 1990 – NSW Senior “B” team member – as a 19yo
• 1990 – Australian Under 21 team
• 1991 – Australian World Cup Squad – coached by Bob Dwyer (1991 World Cup winning coach)
• 1991 – Australia “B” team member
• 1991 – Australian Under 21 team (Vice Captain)
• 1991 – NSW Waratah 1st XV team member – (playing in all undefeated 10 games - touring Argentina & New Zealand and including starting XV wins over England, Wales and Queensland – coached by Rod MacQueen (1999 World Cup winning coach)
• 1991 – NSW Country 1st XV – Australian Southern States Champions.

This time in his representative career gave Craig the opportunity to play against provincial teams from Argentina and New Zealand and also international fixtures against England, Wales and Tonga.

It also gave him the honor of playing with and against some of the greatest players in Australian and World Rugby history including Nick Farr Jones, Simon Poidevin, David Campese, Phil Kearns, Ewan Mckenzie, John Eales, Michael Lynagh, Tim Horan, Jason Little, Will Carling, Martin Johnson, Rob Andrew, Jerry Guscott, Wayne “Buck” Shelford, Walter Little, John Timu and Craig Innes.

After a 6 year absence from the game through injury, Craig returned to top flight rugby in 1998 with the Sydney 1st Division team Northern Suburbs (coached by Dennis Brown and Geoff Mould). Playing only the last three months of the competition,scoring nine tries,Craig helped the team win 10 from 12 games and make the championship final, only to lose to a Stirling Mortlock led Gordon.

Craig's efforts and skills with Norths gained him an ACT Brumbies contract(coached by Eddie Jones) and in 1999 he had the honor of becoming a capped Super 12s representative making his debut against the Western Stormers from South Africa at inside center in a backline that included George Gregan, Steve Larkham, Stirling Mortlock and Joe Roff.

He then gained a contract playing in New Zealand in the prestigious NPC 1st division marking up against many New Zealand All Black representatives including Michael Jones, Jonah Lomu, Carlos Spencer, Joeli Vindiri, Doug Howlett and Todd Blackadder.

Since then Craig has traveled and played professionally in Canada, Netherlands (winning the National Championship) and more recently over the last 8 years here in Los Angeles,New York and Connecticut, playing in four USA National Super League Championships finals, winning two (2004 & 2007) with the Belmont Shore Rugby Club and has also been a USA representative playing for the USA Classic Eagles against Canada.

With his playing career coming to an end Craig has now turned to coaching and has had immediate success coaching Webster Middle School to the LA Unified inner city Championship and also as Coach/Player of the New Haven Division One club in Connecticut who qualified for the final 16 of the USA National Division One competition in 2010.

Peter Dahl

Coach

Peter was born and raised in New Zealand.  Peter played for 13 years beginning at the age of 12. During this time he was the captain of his school team, Otago age grades, a part of the Otago academy in which he received coaching from top coaches from around NZ.

Peter won two Otago Premiership titles with Alhambra Union and went on to be in the Otago Highlanders development side. Peter also played one year with the Otago 7’s team.

After injuring his knee in 2006 he moved to the US to play with Belmont Shore. Currently, he plays both 7’s and 15’s. Through his American father, Peter was selected to play with the USA select 15 and NA4 Teams in 2008. In 2009 he captained Belmont Shore to the semi-finals and was selected to play for USA, where he has played 4 test matches, including games against Wales, Ireland and England. Peter is also part of the USA 7’s squad.

Peter wishes to give back what he's received from his rugby career over the last 13 years. Peter hopes to help USA rugby become one of the best rugby nations in the world!

Jodi Stoltenberg

Consultant

Jodi was born in Carmel, raised in Hawaii and has made the South Bay her home since the age of 18.

An Internet Entrepreneur and Photographer who is an active volunteer at her son's school. She is the Cub Scout Advancement's Chair in our local Pack and spends lots of time supporting her son in his various sports and extra-circular activities.

Jodi has been trained through both the Catholic School's Virtus program, as well as the Cub Scout Youth Protection Program.