The Sporting Transition Podcast

Kate Zachary: From Accidental Rugby Recruit to USA Captain & Future Coach

September 17th, 2025 48 mins

About This Episode:

This week I’m joined by the brilliant Kate Zachary, captain of USA Rugby, two-time Rugby World Cup star (with eyes firmly on a third 👀🏉), and an absolute force in the rise of women’s rugby! 🇺🇸🔥

Kate’s story is wild. From stumbling into rugby at university, to leading her nation on the biggest stage, to carving out a career across two continents, she’s done it all while juggling full-time work, coaching, and leadership roles. Truly inspirational stuff! 🙌

Some of the topics we dive into 👇👇

⚽ How a soccer scholarship in Kansas accidentally set her on a path to rugby greatness

🇺🇸 The growth of women’s rugby in the US and how Olympic Sevens changed everything

💼 What it really looks like to balance elite sport with work and contracts

🤝 Why player advocacy and leadership matter just as much as on-field performance

🚀 Her ambition to transition into pro coaching and lift the next generation

Kate speaks with total honesty about resilience, sacrifice, and carving out a career both inside and outside of sport. Such a powerful and generous conversation.

THANK YOU, Kate Zachary, for sharing your incredible journey! 🙏🏉