Craig Dods has been appointed as the head coach of Canada’s men’s rugby sevens team and as an assistant coach for the men’s 15s team, as confirmed by Rugby Canada on Tuesday. Dods comes to the role following his tenure as an assistant coach for the British men’s sevens team and as a specialized skills coach with Scottish Rugby.
In his new position as head coach for the sevens team, Dods will be steering the men’s program towards the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics while also supporting Stephen Meehan, the head coach for the 15s team, in the preparations for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.
Shawn Bullock, the high performance director of Rugby Canada, mentioned that the coaching position received applications from more than 70 candidates, both domestically and internationally. Originally from Galashiels, Scotland, Dods previously held the role of head coach for Hungary’s women’s sevens team for nearly three years starting in 2018.
Canada’s men’s team is aiming to make a successful comeback to the Olympics after securing the eighth position overall in 2021 and missing out on qualification in 2024. “I’m thrilled to be part of Rugby Canada at this significant juncture for the sport in a nation that takes immense pride and passion in rugby,” Dods expressed in a press release.
