Southland Stags video performance analyst Regan Bennett.

Southland Stags video performance analyst Regan Bennett has landed a job with the Chicago Hounds in the United States’ Major League Rugby competition.

He will head to Chicago in February before linking back up with the Southland Stags ahead of the 2026 NPC season starting in August.

Bennett has been an important figure in the Southland Stags setup since 2018, although his work has largely gone unnoticed to most outside the Stags environment.

In short, he’s the data man. He searches for trends within the Stags’ game, as well as opposition teams, to feed to the coaches before, during, and after games.

“For me, I like to be very coach-specific, especially during the game. So, what is going to help them make the best decision to then relay to the players?

“Each coach for me had a different set of stats I was providing them during the games.”

Bennett puts together a review report following each game for the coaches, as well as a preview that takes a deep look at opposition teams.

That might entail which opposition players kick the most, and what type of kicks, where they go to the most in lineouts, or how they defend.

Bennett said it is rewarding to see something that had been identified and relayed to the players pay off.

He used a couple of Michael Manson tries in 2025 as examples.

“There was a try from a scrum against Tasman, and Michael Manson went all the way through.

“We had previewed they were going to get tight [in defence] here. You show the backs and then you give them some rein with what move they can make to expose this area, and they did it perfectly,” Bennett said.

Another was Manson’s late try against Bay of Plenty when he scored from a Byron Smith inside ball.

Bennett said they took a laptop down to the changing room at halftime and showed the backs that there was some inside space, and they capitalised on that.

“When you see that sort of stuff come to fruition in games, that’s the most rewarding part.”

“A lot goes into it, but it is something I really enjoy. To now be able to travel with that and do it in a different part of the world with all new staff, it’s going to be a great challenge for me.”

Bennett hails from Tuatapere and headed to Dunedin to study with the initial though to become a PE teacher.

That’s before he headed down the analyst route.

He spent 2014 working with the Highlanders as an intern and also stepped back into that role in 2016.

Then came the opportunity in 2018 with the Stags under then head coach Dale MacLeod.

“I’ve been through a few coaches, but Dale MacLeod was a big part of me starting my career. He took a chance, and it paid off for me.”

Last year Bennett had a setback when his full-time, all-year-round role with Rugby Southland was cut back to in-season only.

He picked up a few hours during the off-season working on club rugby, but it wasn’t enough for all year-round full-time employment.

While disappointed at the time, Bennett said it has led to his chance to spend six months working in the United States before returning for the NPC.

“When your role gets reduced, yes, it sucks, but if that didn’t happen this opportunity probably wouldn’t have come.”

“And I still get to be involved with the Stags. I’ve got 80 games under the belt now with the Stags.”

Bennett will work with former Australian fullback Chris Latham, who is head coach of the Chicago Hounds.

He’s looking forward to that experience and building some new connections in the United States competition.

On top of the rugby, it will be a unique chance for a stint living in the United States.

“I’m from out at Tuatapere, so it’s pretty cool coming from a small town like that to be able to do what I do and get to go to Chicago. I think it’s the second-largest city.

“I’m really excited for the opportunity. I’ve had a few Zoom meetings with the team in Chicago over the last few weeks about what they are about as a team and as a franchise, and what they want to achieve.”