The Irish-born Hanratty previously served as an assistant coach with the Canadian women’s 15s team, head coach of the under-20 15s squad and as a coach with the Rugby Canada academy in Halifax.
He 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 is now a citizen.
Hanratty was named head coach of the Canada sevens team in August 2022 after 10 months in the role on an interim basis starting in October 2021. Hanratty, who led the Canadian women to silver at the 2023 Pan American Games, also served in an advisory role to the Canadian Sports Centre (CSC) Atlantic and Rugby Nova Scotia.
The American women are currently ranked eighth in the world, six places below Canada.
“This is an ambitious program with big targets, and we are eager to test ourselves against the best in the world in 2026,” Hanratty said.
Hanratty succeeds Australian Sione Fukofuka, who stepped down as U.S. coach in September after the Eagles failed to advance past the World Cup group stage with a 1-1-1 record.
Fukofuka was appointed coach in November 2023.
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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 2, 2025
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press