AG Rugby Hires USA Rugby Hall of Famer Dave Hodges As Director of Player Personnel

AUSTIN, TX (July 3, 2021) - AG Rugby is delighted to announce the hiring of Dave Hodges as Director of Player Personnel. A former USA National team captain, Hodges brings decades of playing, coaching, and administrative experience to the AGs. He looks forward to spearheading recruitment and scouting for the AGs.

AG Rugby General Manager Mike Sheehan says, “Dave Hodges is one of the most respected figures in American rugby and we feel fortunate to have his valuable insights steering the development of our squad for years to come.”

Hodges plans to grow the AG Rugby player database, nurture the local player pipeline and scour the earth to continually bring premier rugby talent into the AG squad.

Dave Hodges says, “AG Rugby knows the importance of good people and hard work, two values that resonate with me. I look forward to supporting the overall vision of AG Rugby by identifying, qualifying and recruiting players that fit the criteria Sam Harris requires to produce a championship quality team. I am grateful to team owner Adam Gilchrist, and General Manager Mike Sheehan and the whole organization for this opportunity, they have demonstrated the success that emanates when you believe in people.”

Dave Hodges

The former USA Rugby national team captain is the 8th most-capped Eagle ever with 54 international caps to his name. In 28 of those caps, Hodges was the captain of the team, a record that stood until 2013. He had a distinguished eight-year professional rugby career in Wales with Llanelli and Bridgend where he served as both player and strength coach. Hodges was named the Player of the Decade in 2009 by Rugby Magazine.

After his playing career, Hodges immediately stepped into his career off the field; serving USA Rugby with three stints at the National Governing Body. From 2005 to 2006, he served as an assistant coach for the Men’s National Team, Men’s Collegiate All-American coach and youth director. From 2005 to 2007, he sat on the board of directors at USA Rugby and in 2009 Hodges returned to USA rugby as an assistant coach; marshaling the forwards while performing the dual role of performance analyst.

Hodges’ most recent post at USA Rugby was a three-year stint as General Manager of Men’s National XV’s teams; where the senior men’s team, for the first time ever, qualified as Americas #1 for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Additionally, in 208 the Eagles secured their first-ever victory over a top ten ranked nation, beating sixth-ranked Scotland in Houston. Along the way Hodges was Director of Operations for United World Sports & VP of Sales and Performance for Rhino Rugby; one of the leading rugby brands in the world.

Hodges looks forward to working in lockstep with central Texas’ local clubs (Austin Huns, Austin Blacks, ORC, San Antonio, Alamo City) and the AG Academy to nurture the pathway from our premier local clubs to the MLR ranks. “This city has multiple esteemed clubs that not only produce MLR-ready players and nationally contending squads, but stand tall as cultural dignitaries of our great game,” says Hodges “I am thrilled to work with each of these clubs and learn from their success as we grow together.”

As a former college football player turned rugby player, Hodges believes thoroughly in the potential of crossover athletes and their capability to benefit the game of rugby. “Texas has a rich history of success in athletics and I believe there are great rugby players in this state that just haven’t found the game yet, and finding and grooming that pool of players is a passion of mine.”

Hodges looks forward to turning over every stone to find the AG superstars of tomorrow, and the future of the AGs looks brighter than ever with the addition of Dave Hodges!