Jack Hanratty named full-time Head Coach of Canada’s Senior Women’s Sevens team

August 9, 2022 (Langford, BC) – Rugby Canada is delighted to announce that Jack Hanratty has been confirmed as the Head Coach of Canada’s Senior Women’s Sevens team on a full-time basis.

Since being placed in interim charge of the team in October 2021, Hanratty has led a young, developing squad full of fresh faces to a seventh-place finish in the HSBC Sevens Series, the RAN Sevens Qualifiers championship, a Rugby World Cup Sevens berth and an impressive fourth-place finish at the Commonwealth Games.

Part of the Canadian rugby program and coaching pathway for over a decade, Hanratty began coaching the Halifax Tars during a summer sabbatical having spent five years with Leinster.

Hanratty impressed in the role and went on to enjoy nine years at Rugby Nova Scotia. He has also spent time working with many of Rugby Canada’s national programs, including the Senior Women’s 15s team, the U20 Women as well as the U17, U18 and U20 Men’s programs.

In the coming years, Hanratty’s main goals for the Women’s Sevens program involve continuing to build a team to compete for a podium finish on the HSBC Sevens Series, qualification for the Olympic Games and ultimately challenging for a medal position at Paris 2024. His first major tournament as the program’s full-time Head Coach will be the Rugby World Cup Sevens in South Africa next month.

“I would like to start by thanking Rugby Canada for this opportunity and the continued trust shown in me,” Hanratty commented. “It has been an honor to lead this incredible group on an interim basis and I’m delighted to be continuing in the role full time and continue with the strides we made this year. I would also like to express my gratitude to Rugby Nova Scotia and the Canadian Sport Centre Atlantic for their crucial role in my development and for providing me with the opportunities that have led me to this point.”

Since taking charge of the Senior Women’s Sevens team, Hanratty – in collaboration with Senior Women’s 15s Head Coach Kevin Rouet - has been a driving force in creating a cohesive environment whereby the development and movement of players between the two programs has become commonplace. 

Additionally, six Maple Leaf Academy graduates have featured in Hanratty’s rosters during the season, while 13 players have been handed Senior National Sevens team debuts. 

About Rugby Canada

Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. They administer and operate Men’s and Women’s Senior and Junior National programs in both rugby 15s and 7s, as well as govern the Club and community game for more than 30,000 registered participants from coast to coast in conjunction with ten Provincial Union members.

Rugby Canada is headquartered at the Al Charron National Training Centre in Langford, BC, residing on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Lekwungen/Songhees peoples, with staff also working from Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Canada Sevens annual tournaments.