Dave Hodges (rugby)
Encyclopedia
David Hodges is an American rugby union coach of the United States national rugby union team
, the Eagles. Hodges is a former professional and collegiate rugby union player, professional, collegiate and high school American football player, and professional and collegiate American football coach.
Hodges played American football throughout his college years at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California and received accolades in each of his four collegiate seasons. Hodges was named a Kodak All-American football player, an award given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions.
Hodges began playing rugby at 18 as a freshman at Occidental College. Within two years, David was named as a Collegiate All-American in 1990 and 1991. Teammates and opponents speak highly of his leadership and athleticism. Greg Jenkins, a teammate
said, "He's (Hodges) a leader--a great athlete with leverage, agility and aggressiveness. No one can match his ability. He's pretty much in a league of his own."
at lock, flanker and at the #8 position. He made his debut as a substitute against Uruguay
in 1996 at Fletcher's Fields
in Markham
, Canada
.
He was the USA National Team Captain 27 times during 2000 through 2003.
Hodges won the Michelob Amber Bock USA Rugby Athlete of the Year in 2005.
A match between the USA and France, on July 3, 2004, marked the final game that David represented the United States, as a player. After nine years of service to the Eagles, Hodges explained his decision. "I think now is the right time. I’m still playing at a high level and I think I wanted to be a part of the team, as long as I was selected, and of the transition. But now I see that the team is in good hands and some exciting players are coming through. We’re building for the next World Cup and so the more I stay around, that’s one less guy in the XV that coach has experience for the next World Cup."
In 2009, Hodges was named Player of the Decade (2000-2009) by Rugby Magazine.
USA Eagles Assistant Coach, Forwards and Performance Analyst
Head Coach (2006-2009) Denver Barbarians Rugby Club
, a USA Rugby Super Leagueteam, based in Denver, Colorado
.
USA Rugby (2005-2006)
High Performance Manager
Assistant US National Team Coach
Head Coach, USA Rugby Collegiate All-Americans
Game Development Officer, High School Administrative Model
Strength coach for the Llanelli Scarlets (2001-2004).
Hamburg Blue Devils Player/Coach (1993-1994)
Macalester College Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers, Strength Coach (1990-1993)
American Football
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
, the Eagles. Hodges is a former professional and collegiate rugby union player, professional, collegiate and high school American football player, and professional and collegiate American football coach.
High School and Collegiate Years
Hodges played American football at the linebacker position at Long Beach Wilson High School in Long Beach, California. It was during this period that Hodges saw his first rugby match as Belmont Shore Rugby Club practiced and played their matches on the same field that David’s high school team played football.Hodges played American football throughout his college years at Occidental College in Los Angeles, California and received accolades in each of his four collegiate seasons. Hodges was named a Kodak All-American football player, an award given annually to the best American college football players at their respective positions.
Hodges began playing rugby at 18 as a freshman at Occidental College. Within two years, David was named as a Collegiate All-American in 1990 and 1991. Teammates and opponents speak highly of his leadership and athleticism. Greg Jenkins, a teammate
said, "He's (Hodges) a leader--a great athlete with leverage, agility and aggressiveness. No one can match his ability. He's pretty much in a league of his own."
USA Eagles
Hodges was capped 54 times by the USA EaglesUnited States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
at lock, flanker and at the #8 position. He made his debut as a substitute against Uruguay
Uruguay national rugby union team
The Uruguay national rugby union team is the representative side of Uruguay, governed by the Unión de Rugby del Uruguay. They have been playing international rugby since 1948. Their jersey is blue and black and they are known as Los Teros. They qualified twice for the Rugby World Cup, in 1999 and...
in 1996 at Fletcher's Fields
Fletcher's Fields
Fletcher's Fields is a rugby stadium in Markham, Ontario, Canada. It currently serves as home to the Toronto Rebellion of the Rugby Canada Super League. The stadium, which seats 3,000 people, has hosted numerous Canada national rugby union team matches in the past was one of the venues for the...
in Markham
Markham, Ontario
Markham is a town in the Regional Municipality of York, located within the Greater Toronto Area of Southern Ontario, Canada. The population was 261,573 at the 2006 Canadian census...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
He was the USA National Team Captain 27 times during 2000 through 2003.
Hodges won the Michelob Amber Bock USA Rugby Athlete of the Year in 2005.
A match between the USA and France, on July 3, 2004, marked the final game that David represented the United States, as a player. After nine years of service to the Eagles, Hodges explained his decision. "I think now is the right time. I’m still playing at a high level and I think I wanted to be a part of the team, as long as I was selected, and of the transition. But now I see that the team is in good hands and some exciting players are coming through. We’re building for the next World Cup and so the more I stay around, that’s one less guy in the XV that coach has experience for the next World Cup."
Professional Rugby Career
David played professional rugby with Llanelli Rugby Football Club in Llanelli, Wales from 1997–1999 and 2001–2005. Hodges played for Bridgend Rugby Football Club in 1999–2000. In 2001 and 2002, he was named Player of the Year for the Llanelli Scarlets. Hodges was also the Strength Coach for the Llanelli Scarlets from 2001–2004.In 2009, Hodges was named Player of the Decade (2000-2009) by Rugby Magazine.
Rugby Union
USA Rugby (2009-2011)USA Eagles Assistant Coach, Forwards and Performance Analyst
Head Coach (2006-2009) Denver Barbarians Rugby Club
Denver Barbarians
The Denver Barbarians Rugby Football Club is a SuperLeague rugby union and Division I team based in Denver, Colorado.----- History :The Denver Barbarians Rugby Football Club was founded in 1967. The initial members were men that had been playing rugby with some of the local collegiate teams, or...
, a USA Rugby Super Leagueteam, based in Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
.
USA Rugby (2005-2006)
High Performance Manager
Assistant US National Team Coach
Head Coach, USA Rugby Collegiate All-Americans
Game Development Officer, High School Administrative Model
Strength coach for the Llanelli Scarlets (2001-2004).
American Football
Greenville College Defensive Backs Coach (1994)Hamburg Blue Devils Player/Coach (1993-1994)
Macalester College Defensive Coordinator, Linebackers, Strength Coach (1990-1993)
Honors
Rugby Union- 2009 USA Rugby Union Player of the Decade (Rugby Magazine)
- 1996-2004 USA NATIONAL TEAM 54 Times
- 2001-2002 Llanelli Scarlets Player of the Year
- 2000-03 USA NATIONAL TEAM CAPTAIN 27 Times
- 1995-97 Member of 1996 National Championship team OMBAC
- 1990,1991 All-American Collegiate XV
American Football
- 1989 Kodak All American
- 1989 MVP All Southern California Intercollegiate Athlete Conference
- 1986-89 All-Southern California Intercollegiate Athlete Conference Team