(USA Rugby Press Release)—USA Women’s Eagles Head Coach, Sione Fukofuka announced today his plans to step away from his role with USA Rugby.
Fukofuka was appointed Head Coach in November of 2023, before leading the Women’s fifteens to Rugby World Cup 2025 qualification and broadly supporting a re-energized High Performance Pathway.
The Women’s National Team saw immense growth in professionalism and high performance qualities during Sione’s tenure, with positive markers in program development and raising standards to what is required of an international program. Fukofuka and his family intend to return home to Australia following the recent completion of the USA Rugby World Cup campaign in England.
Fukofuka said on his decision to step away, “I have been honored and privileged to lead the USA Women’s Eagles for the past two years into the Rugby World Cup. The staff and players have been a pleasure to work with and have committed countless hours to move the program into a high performance environment, changing the game on and off the field. I want to thank them for their commitment, their trust in the program and where we were building. I have made the difficult decision to step down from my role as Head Coach and return to Australia to prioritize my family, I want to thank Tamara Sheppard for her support and understanding."
