Met Sport Alumnus Behind Italy’s Defence in Historic Six Nations Win

"When all else is equal, defence is king” said former England head coach Stuart Lancaster. That proved true at the weekend when Italy claimed a historic victory over England in the Guinness Six Nations. Helping organise the Azzurri defence was Cardiff Met Sport alumnus Richard Hodges, bringing his defensive expertise to the international stage.

Hodges, who studied Sport and Human Movement Studies at Cardiff Met, graduated in 1998 and has built an impressive coaching career across professional and international rugby.

In 2024 he was appointed defence coach for the Italy national team, joining head coach Gonzalo Quesada’s staff on a four-year deal. The role sees him responsible for shaping the Azzurri defensive system as Italy continue to develop a young and ambitious squad.

Before moving to the Italian setup, Hodges held several prominent roles in the professional game. He spent six years as defence coach at Cardiff Rugby, becoming one of the longest-serving assistant coaches in the United Rugby Championship. He has also worked within the Welsh Rugby Union pathway, including roles with Wales Sevens and Wales Under-20s.

During his time with Wales Sevens, Hodges was part of the coaching team that helped guide Wales to victory at the 2009 Rugby World Cup Sevens, one of the nation’s most memorable achievements in the shorter format of the game.

Known for his relationship-driven coaching style, Hodges has often spoken about the importance of trust and clarity in defence systems.

“Players will always be your best referee,” Hodges said when taking up the Italy role. “My coaching style is very much based around relationships and getting the trust of the players.”

With Italy continuing to build towards the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Hodges will play a key role in developing a defensive identity for a squad packed with emerging talent.

For Cardiff Met, Hodges’ success highlights the global impact of its alumni within elite sport, with graduates continuing to influence performance environments across international rugby.