Hosts Dallen Stanford & Robin MacDowell are joined by current USA Women’s 15s Head Coach Jack Hanratty for #RugbyHive Episode 38.

Originally from Skerries, County Dublin, Hanratty has rapidly become one of the most respected young coaches in world rugby. His coaching journey began with Leinster Rugby before moving into the Rugby Canada pathway, where he climbed from age-grade rugby into senior international coaching.

Hanratty first made waves on the international stage with Canada Women’s Rugby, serving as assistant coach during the 2022 Rugby World Cup before taking charge of Canada Women’s Sevens. Under his leadership, Canada became one of the most exciting and dangerous teams on the HSBC SVNS circuit, highlighted by a silver medal performance at the Paris Olympics in 2024.

Now leading the USA Women’s Eagles program, Hanratty has relocated to the United States to guide the team into an exciting new era ahead of Rugby World Cup 2029 and the massive opportunity of Rugby World Cup 2033 on American soil.

In this episode, we dive deep into Jack’s coaching philosophy, his upbringing in Ireland, and the influences that shaped his approach to leadership and high performance. We unpack Canada’s remarkable run to Olympic silver in Paris, including the incredible comeback victory over Australia in the semifinals, and what it takes to build belief within an elite environment.

We also discuss the future of USA Women’s Rugby, talent identification across North America, the balance between 7s and 15s development, and why women’s rugby is entering a golden era globally. Hanratty also shares insights into athlete management, pressure moments at the Olympics, and what success could look like for the Eagles over the next four-year cycle.

We hope you enjoy this episode with one of the brightest coaching minds in international rugby — a coach already shaping the future of the women’s game across two nations.

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