Hodgson began his rugby career with his local team the Avoca Sharks in the NSW Central Coast town of
Avoca Beach. At age 17, Hodgson was drafted by the
New South Wales Waratahs as a flyhalf/centre and was redeveloped as a loose forward. However, he did not receive any
Super Rugby caps for the franchise in that season, which saw him leave the club to represent amateur clubs to develop into a full-time
flanker. While training with the Waratahs, Hodgson played for Sydney Club Rugby teams Eastwood Rugby Club (1999–2003) and Manly RUFC (2004–05). His form as a flanker, saw Hodgson receive a call up into the
Australian under-21s team for the
2002 Under 21 Rugby World Championship. He started in the number 7 jersey in the grand final against
South Africa under-21, who were the winning side 24–21 in
Johannesburg. He was part of the
Eastwood Rugby Club winning side in the 2002
Shute Shield, where he was named man-of-the match in the 19–15 win over
Sydney University.
2005 – Debut Super Rugby season In 2005, Hodgson was a member of the
Australian sevens side that finished seventh in the
2004–05 World Sevens Series. In addition to this, he got his first taste of international rugby, playing for the
Australian A side against the
Junior All Blacks in
Canberra. Further more, Hodgson signed with the
Western Force, for their inaugural season of
Super Rugby. He made his super rugby debut at home,
Subiaco Oval, against the
Brumbies who were the victors in that match 25–10. At the end of his debut season with the Force, he was awarded the inaugural presentation of the 2006 Force Man award – a recognition given to the player deemed to best represent the club's values in all that they do both on and off the field. This award was again won by Hodgson in 2007, 2009 and in 2010.
2009 – Australia Hodgson enjoyed a break-out season in 2009, earning his first Western Force Player of the Year award and first Wallabies call up. He debuted for Australia in the non-cap earning 55–7 annihilation of the
Barbarians at
Sydney Football Stadium. A serious AC Joint injury sustained during the 39th minute sidelined Hodgson for 3 months, but he returned for the
Spring Tour later that year and performed in the midweek matches against
Gloucester and
Cardiff Blues. 2010 Super rugby season saw Hodgson awarded his second Player of the Year award in so many years. Hodgson rounded off 2010 with two Man of the Match performances on Wallaby Spring tour against Munster and Leicester. Hodgson's first test cap was a substitution from the bench in the 49–3 victory against
Fiji in
Canberra, during the
2010 mid-year rugby union internationals. He also made appearances from the bench in tests against
England,
New Zealand and
Italy during the 2010 season. He earned his first starting position against
Samoa in Sydney during the
2011 mid-year rugby union internationals. On that occasion Samoa won 32–23 in a shock victory. Hodgson was a member of the 2011 World Cup Squad, called up as an injury replacement for
Wycliff Palu. Hodgson is contracted until the end of the 2015 Super Rugby Season with the Western Force. Hodgson is managed by the Fordham Company in Sydney. ==Personal life==