Asia Hogan-Rochester on Culture, Community and Breaking Barriers

Asia Hogan-Rochester says they are in rugby to 'achieve great things', as they hail the team culture at new club Sale Sharks and look forward to helping bring success to Greater Manchester.

Canadian international Hogan-Rochester, who signed for Sale for the 2025/26 season, made their debut in a round 9 clash against Bristol Bears, is determined to make the same impact on the domestic scene as they have made on the international circuit.

At 26, Hogan-Rochester has already built an impressive resume, but their rugby journey began later than most. Their introduction to the sport came at 17, when rugby was suggested as an outlet for their energy.

“I was getting in a bit of trouble at school and spending a lot of my creative energy in not the best outlets. Then rugby was suggested to me as a way to let that energy and aggression out, which was the first time I’d ever considered it.

“Then my (now teammate), Charity Williams, went to the Rio Olympics and came back with a bronze medal for Canada’s 7s team. She came to my high school with the medal and told us, ‘I’ve been in your shoes, I’m someone who looks like you and knows the areas you live in, and I know you can achieve great things for yourself, if you want to.’

 “So, I ended up just going for it. What kept me there wasn’t just the game itself, but the people, the culture and the sense of belonging. I was fully accepted for who I am.”

That sense of belonging proved pivotal, but access to the sport was not always easy. Reflecting on the grassroots landscape in Canada, Hogan-Rochester said:

“I was later to rugby, but even at 17 it was still tough to field teams. On some occasions we could only put 13 girls out on a field and ended up playing 20-minute halves, just so we could get the opportunity to play.”

After what they describe as a ‘sports awakening’, they looked to pursue rugby opportunities in university.

“I made sure I was going to every class, being attentive, and catching up with my grades. Rugby really pushed me to pursue education because I wanted to keep going and keep playing.”

It was at university that Hogan-Rochester realised that a career in rugby could be a possibility.

“I excelled in rugby at university, which is when I started getting called up for Canada under 20s and began that player pathway. That was the thing that gave me the idea that I could take this farther.

“Because I started later than others, I knew that I had to make up the skill and rugby IQ gap. I wanted to pursue these opportunities to play, so I made sure to put my head down and keep working.”

Despite their extremely successful career, Hogan-Rochester still had to face and endure challenges on their journey to professional rugby.

“In Canada, rugby isn’t necessarily a sport where a lot of people look like me at grassroots level. There was often times where I might have been the only black person on a team, and often some cultural misunderstandings. I didn’t always see myself in the sport as easily or see representations of me.

“But that’s also something that really motivated me to get to the highest level, because I wanted other athletes to see themselves in me.”

Asia signed for Sale Sharks in December 2025 and immediately felt aligned with the club’s vision.

“As soon as Charlie Beckett and I spoke for the first time, Sale seemed like the right fit for me. I’d previously spoken to a couple of other teams, but Sale Sharks was the only team to lead with team culture as the selling point. That’s really important to me.

“I love playing rugby and of course I love winning, but the thing that keeps me in the sport is the people. The people, culture and values have helped me learn as a human being, as well as a player.

They made their debut in Sale colours during a match against Bristol Bears on 1st February. The winger came on as a substitution in the closing moments of the game, with the Sharks earning two bonus points despite the loss.

“There is a long-term plan for this group to be successful and we’re already seeing it this year. We’ve made some huge signings this season and if you look at the trajectory of our team, it’s only going up.

“There’s been a few games this season that we’ve only lost by a couple of points, so I want to contribute anything I can to get us over that line. I love the challenge, and that’s something that everybody on this team embodies.”

Picking up their first start just two weeks later, Hogan-Rochester was named in the team that would beat Trailfinders Women. After going behind to a penalty try from the opposition, Asia was the one to level the scoreline with their first PWR try in the 23rd minute.

“Getting a start and being able to play a full 80, as someone who is new to 15s, was really special. Then getting to score and coming away with a win at the end is really a testament to the team and coaching staff that we have.”

When making the decision to move to the PWR, they looked towards fellow Canadian teammates playing in the PWR for advice.

“I asked a lot of questions to Pamphinette Buisa before moving over, about everything from playing with Sarah Bern to what to buy in a grocery shop! I really leaned on her for the random thoughts that would cross my mind before coming out here.

“Then I also messaged Liv Apps quite a lot, just to tell her that she’s smashing it. I know it can’t be easy, because I was overthinking everything before I even got to England. So, it was to say, ‘I see what you’re doing and I respect that.’”

Asia is one of the only openly gender diverse athletes within professional rugby and became the first gender-fluid player in a World Cup final for any sport.

“It’s something that I’m still learning to fully feel comfortable and open with. But I know how important that role is to have somebody who looks like you, or identifies the same as you in spaces you want to be in.”

On the inclusivity of rugby for gender diverse athletes, Hogan-Rochester still believes changes have to be made.

“I think there’s still a bit of work to go. In terms of commentating, some people aren’t fully on the same page when it comes to referring to people. A lot of commentators do acknowledge it and apply it to their craft, but it would be great to see that overall.

“In terms of the club environment, I feel fully welcomed and accepted, by both staff and fans. Everyone around me at Sale Sharks has been really supportive and made sure to use my pronouns but have also asked questions to get a better understanding.

“Rugby is a sport where it genuinely doesn’t matter where you come from, what you look like, or what you do. There’s always going to be a space for you somewhere, and a club that wants to have you. It’s just about doing everything that we can as a sport to make sure that nobody is missing out.”