Former NRL star and England assistant coach Brett Hodgson has been appointed as the Wallabies defence coach on a two-year deal until the end of 2024.
Hodgson joins Rugby Australia following a highly decorated career as both a professional player and coach, having played over 350 first grade games in NRL and English Super League, as well as representing New South Wales in State of Origin.
Following retirement as a player, he began his coaching career in 2012 as a kicking consultant with Sale Sharks in the English Premiership before becoming an assistant with Hull FC in the Super League.
He then moved back to Australia to take up a role with his former club, Wests Tigers in 2018, returning to the UK as head coach of Hull FC at the end of 2020.
The 45-year-old most recently joined Eddie Jones as England’s defence coach in November last year and will begin his role with the Wallabies effective immediately.
Wallabies assistant coach Brett Hodgson said: “I’m really excited to be back in Australia and working with the Wallabies, especially in a World Cup year.”
“There’s plenty of hard work ahead and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and making a positive contribution to the team.
“The Wallabies are a team everyone in Australia loves to get behind and from what I’ve seen so far there’s plenty of talent here and that’s something that’s really exciting.”
Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones said: “Brett’s a hard-working and detailed young coach who will be a great asset to the Wallabies and the coaching staff.”
"He's worked under some great coaching mentors like Gus Gould and Tim Sheens in his time as a player and a coach, so he's well-schooled and I know he’ll give his best to the job of producing best defence in world.”
