Rugby Canada Appoint Jack Hanratty as Interim Coach of Women’s 7s Team
Jack Hanratty has been given the reigns of the contentious senior women’s 7s program until the end of the calendar year. The program has been hitting the headlines recently but not in a positive way. First the players ousted their long time coach, John Tait, accusing him of harassment and bullying, charges he was later cleared of by an independent investigator. Then they tanked at the Olympics, finishing 9th, after being favoured to repeat their 2016 Bronze medal performance.
In the recent Vancouver and Edmonton series, the program put out a development team with Kelly Russell in charge.
There are only two tournaments in this calendar year and both are in Dubai running from November 26th to December 4th.
Assisting Hanratty will be former Canada player and current UVic Vikes women’s coach, Brittany Waters.
Hanratty came to Canada from Ireland in 2013, he was Development Officer for Leinster Rugby. He became the Provincial Coach of Nova Scotia in 2013 and entered the Rugby Canada coaching ranks in 2015 where he has worked with the men’s and women’s U20 programs, the men’s U18 program and the Academy program. He is currently head coach of the women’s U20 team.
from Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada has appointed Jack Hanratty as Canadian National Senior Womens 7s Team Interim Head Coach, effective immediately, through the end of the 2021 calendar year.
Hanratty has filled roles as Assistant Coach of Rugby Canadas Senior Womens 15s Team, Head Coach of the U-20 Womens 15s Team, Rugby Canada Academy Coach Canadian Sports Institute (CSI) Atlantic and most recently as Canadas Assistant Coach for the 2021 HSBC Canada Sevens Fast Four events in Vancouver and Edmonton. He will continue in an advisory role to Canadian Sports Centre Atlantic and Rugby Nova Scotia throughout his contract with the National Senior Womens 7s Team.
Jack is an obvious selection to lead our womens team into the upcoming HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series event in Dubai while we finalize our recruitment process for a permanent head coach, said Rugby Canada CEO Allen Vansen. We expect to have a permanent coach in-place for when the team returns after the holiday season.
Hanratty and the Womens 7s Team will assemble for training in Langford, British Columbia, ahead of Novembers HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series Dubai tournament and will be assisted by University of Victoria Vikes Womens Head Coach Brittany Waters, who will join the teams coaching staff in a support role while in Langford.
Hanrattys appointment falls in line with Rugby Canadas High Performance redevelopment strategy, ensuring the organizations national teams have the leadership required to foster and maintain a modern, sustainable and safe environment.