Former Canada rugby sevens coach looking forward to new challenge with U.S. women

The United States, including Ilona Maher of the United States, centre, team lines up during the opening ceremony before the start of the group A match at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup between England and the United States in Sunderland, England, Friday, Aug. 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Scott Heppell)

There’s a backstory to Canada’s rugby sevens silver medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics, dating back to the Rugby Americas North Sevens two years earlier in the Bahamas.

The Canadian women were staying at Breezes Resort Bahamas, an all-inclusive resort, during the tournament. Unfortunately it was during was American spring break, hardly conducive for elite athletes during a competition.

Breeze became a code word for the Canadian women.

“The stay became a lesson in ‘Control the controllables,’” recalled then-Canada coach Jack Hanratty. “Like we can’t move hotels, so what’s the stuff that we can do here? We can go down to the beach, we can try to go to other places for dinner.

“And it was one of those terms that was said so often that if the bus was late, someone would just go ‘Breezes’ or ‘We’re just breezing.’ It also meant ‘Just always enjoy it. Like always find your moment of joy.’”

Words to live by.

Hanratty will be sharing such wisdom south of the border come January when he take over the eighth-ranked United States women’s 15s side on a four-year contract.

The 36-year-old coach joins USA Rugby at an auspicious time. The U.S. is hosting the both men’s and women’s World Cup in 2031 and 2033, respectively.

“It almost feels like a kid going into a toy shop before Christmas … There’s huge energy,” Hanratty said.

Hanratty succeeds Australian Sione Fukofuka, who stepped down as U.S. coach in September after the Eagles failed to advance past the group stage at this year’s women’s World Cup.

The Americans finished third in Pool A with a 1-1-1 record, losing 69-7 to top-ranked England, tying Australia 31-31 and blanking Samoa 60-0. Australia took second place on points differential, losing 46-5 to eventual runner-up Canada in the quarterfinals.

Fukofuka was appointed coach in November 2023.

Hanratty’s new talent includes Ilona Maher, a force of nature who turned heads en route to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics before finishing runner-up on “Dancing With The Stars” in November 2024 and winning the 2025 ESPY for Best Breakthrough Athlete in July.

Hanratty will be renewing acquaintances with Canada and coach Kevin Rouet, whom he calls “a brilliant coach,” next year at the Pacific Four Series, expected to kick off in April, before the new WXV Global Series in the fall.

Hanratty stepped down as Canada sevens coach after the Paris Olympics, finishing out 2024 with Rugby Canada before taking over the University of Ottawa’s women’s rugby program.

He says he was “lucky” to coach the Canadian seven sides in Paris, citing the team’s cohesion and balance.

“I feel like everyone just shared in the highs and lows,” he said. “Not everything went according to plan, from an injury standpoint, from squad members coming in and out.”

But with help from assistant coach Jocelyn Barrieau, who took over the side from Hanratty, the Canadian women kept “breezing.”

Hanratty said having spent a decade with Rugby Canada, the time was right to move on and seek a new challenge.

“It was the right decision at the right time,” he said. “I got to leave with handshakes, which not a lot of high-performance coaches get to do.”

Under Hanratty, Ottawa finished sixth at the U Sports Championship, losing 40-14 to Laval on Nov. 2. The Gee Gees finished second behind the Rouge et Or in the RSEQ during the regular season.

Hanratty has nothing but good things to say about Ottawa and the people behind the athletics program there, calling Danika Smith, the university’s assistant director of high performance athletics, “one of the most innovative high-performing people I’ve every worked with.”

“I have so much respect for U Sports athletes,” he added. “How they balance their university, their job and their willingness to train really real hard.”

He is finishing out the year with Ottawa before taking up his new position, based out of San Diego.

Hanratty coached a variety of teams during his time with Rugby Canada, from youth teams to serving as an assistant coach at the Women’s World Cup in 2022. He was named head coach of the women’s sevens side in August 2022 after 10 months in the role on an interim basis.

Growing up in Ireland, Hanratty fell in love at his hometown club, Skerries RFC, where his uncle had served as captain and his grandfather as president.

Hanratty was working as a development officer for Leinster Rugby when he came to Canada in 2012, initially for seven days to run a course for a rugby club in Halifax. That turned into a sabbatical for the summer.

After returning to Ireland, he interviewed for a job with Rugby Nova Scotia, thinking it might last a year or so. Instead, he found a home in Canada and became a citizen.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 8, 2025.

Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press