Kevin Rudd (rugby league)

Kevin Rudd (born 9 October 1971 in Garforth), is a former professional Rugby League player, coach and administrator. Rudd was the first Executive Officer[1] for the Rugby League European Federation.[2] He is a former player and coach for Scotland Students and Scotland ‘A’ teams.[3]:140 He was a Director of Rugby and Development for Scotland R.L for the pathway leading to the National Team. He is also a former Assistant Team Manager for the Scotland Rugby League National Team. He has concurrently developed a career as a Mechanical Engineer in the cement industry and is founder and Director of UK based cement consulting firm, Independent Cement Consultants.

Kevin Rudd, pictured on duty for the RLEF as Tournament Director of European Under 16s-Serbia, 2009.
Kevin Rudd, player for Castleford Colts, with team coach Dennis Hartley, 1988
Kevin Rudd, representing the Scottish national team, at the Rugby League Halifax Student World Cup, 1996

Background

Rudd was born in Garforth, Yorkshire, UK.[3]:140 He describes himself as mixed race, his Dad being a Geordie from Eighton Banks and his Mum a Mackam from Boldon Colliery, Sunderland.[1]

Rugby league

Playing career

Rudd, a hooker, started his professional career as a player with Castleford in the late 1980s'.[4] He was coached by the great Dennis Hartley. During his studies at Nottingham Trent University he played for the University student side, Midlands Universities (coached by the founder of Scotland Students R.L Malcom Reid), Nottingham City[1][5] as well as for the Cambridge Eagles, playing in the fledgling London League, during his industrial placement year.[3]:150 After completing his studies in Nottingham, he returned to Garforth and represented Doncaster and Hull KR, as well as local amateur Club Lock Lane. From 1996, once he moved to Dunbar, on the east coast of Scotland for his first major engineering post,[6]:182 he played for several Scottish sides including the first club side in Scotland, the Forth & Clyde Nomads in 1996 and as captain[7] for the Edinburgh Eagles in 1998 and 1999[6].:203 He continued his studies in Scotland, graduating with an MBA at Edinburgh University in 1998. In 1996 he represented the Scottish National Student team at the Halifax Student World Cup, coached by former Welsh International John Risman, where Rudd was named player of the tournament for the Scottish side.[8] He represented the Scottish team again at the 1999 Independent Student Rugby League World Cup[6]:205 as well as playing for Scotland ‘A’. During the 1990s and 2000s he had played for so many different teams he became known in the rugby league world as 'a man who has played for more teams and countries than anyone known in the history of rugby league' as was quoted in Dave Hadfield's in book, Learning Curve: The story of Student Rugby League[3].:150

Coaching and management career

In 1998 Rudd took on the role of Scotland Rugby League Director of Rugby and Development Manager,[6]:33 responsible for the player pathway leading to the Scotland National Rugby League Team. He was manager and coach for the Scotland Students' Team until 2003, part of the first national Management Team to defeat France in France in 2003.[9][10] He also became coach of the Scotland A team as well as Assistant Team Manager for the Scottish National Team, part of the first national Management Team to defeat France in France in 2003.[11]

In 2004 Rudd was appointed as the first Executive Officer for the Rugby League European Federation.[2] In the five years until he resigned from the post in 2009, Rudd was given the task of promoting the sport across the continent.[12] This role took him to many countries, including Georgia,[13] Czech Republic,[14] Jamaica, Serbia, Italy Pakistan, Russia, Lebanon, Morocco, Ukraine, Netherlands, Latvia and Germany[15] to mention a few, where he worked to create new teams and cooperation between nations. He was responsible for establishing the European B and C Championships, which have been played annually since 2006 by second and third tier nations. During these championships he was occasionally asked to step in as referee.[16]

Volunteering

Rudd continues to train juniors as volunteer Head Coach at his local club: Elmbridge Eagles Rugby League Club and is the secretary of the London Junior League.[17] Rudd also continues to coach on the Junior regional representative programme, the first stepping stone towards a career in playing professional Rugby League in the London region.

Mechanical engineering career

Education and early career

Rudd graduated from Nottingham Trent University with a BEng in Mechanical Engineering in 1994. During his industrial placement year he was trained on the job by specialist engineers whilst involved in the precision engineering task of building Sizewell B nuclear reactor.[18] He graduated from Leeds University with an Msc. in 1995 and attained an MBA at Edinburgh University in 1998.[3]:139

Cement industry

After graduating with an MSc in Production Management, Rudd commenced his career in the cement industry as trainee engineer for Blue Circle Cement in Scotland. He moved up through the ranks to become a Country Manager for Blue Circle, Project Director at Lafarge and WS Atkins.[19] He is currently a specialist consultant and Director for heavy industry consultancy, Independent Cement Consultants (ICC).

IMechE fellow

In 2013 Rudd was elected Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. He is currently the only member from within the UK cement industry to have this title.[19]

Expert witness

Rudd is a registered international expert witness, serving the cement and other heavy industries.[20]

References
  1. Graeme Thompson (April 29, 2020). "Rugby League European Federation with Graeme Thompson - Kevin Rudd". listennotes.com (Podcast). Rugby League European Federation. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  2. "History of the Rugby League European Federation". Rugby League European Federation. 13 Sep 2017. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  3. Hadfield, Dave (8 Mar 2013). Learning Curve: The Story of Student Rugby League. Scratching Shed Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-0956804389.
  4. "Rugby appoints new consultant". Sports Business. July 5, 2004. 5 July 2004. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  5. "Maitz's effort all in vain for city". Nottingham Evening Post. March 7, 1994.
  6. Willacy, Gavin (June 28, 2002). Rugby League Bravehearts. London League Publications Ltd. p. 33. ISBN 1903659051.
  7. "Master Class" (August 24th, 1998). The Express.
  8. "Garforth Man is a World Cup Hit". Leeds Skytrack Express. September 13, 1996.
  9. "Past Squads - Scotland Rugby League". SCOTLAND RL. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  10. "Scotland Rugby League - European Tour 2003". Sport Focus. July 2nd 2003. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  11. "All Time Results". Scotland Rugby League. Scotland Rugby League. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  12. "RFL offers Euro equality". Sky Sports. February 26, 2008. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  13. "Georgia keen to join league elite". BBC Sport. February 17, 2005. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  14. "Rugby League in the Czech Republic". Prague.TV. 22 Feb 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  15. "Rugby League European Federation Shorts Newsletter" (PDF) (2009). Rugby League European Federation. Retrieved 13 May 2020.
  16. "Rugby League Project - Kevin Rudd -Referee". Rugby League Project. Rugby League Project. Retrieved 7 May 2020.
  17. "Committee and Coaches". Elmbridge Eagles Rugby League Club. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  18. Bellamy, Kathryn. "Professional Qualifications for Heavy Industry Engineers". World Cement (November 2013): 139. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  19. "Kevin Rudd FIMechE looks for connections in heavy industries". Institute of Mechanical Engineers. July 24, 2013. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
  20. "Cements". UK Register of Expert Witnesses. J S Publications. Retrieved 15 May 2020.
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