Canadian rugby rocked by death
‘Larger-than-life figure’ coached both men’s and women’s national teams
Ric Suggitt, who coached both the men’s and women’s national rugby teams, has died. He was 58.
The University of Lethbridge announced the news on Tuesday morning.
According to his longtime friend and coaching colleague John Tait, Suggitt died from the effects of a sudden brain aneurysm. He was stricken Monday and passed away Tuesday morning in the company of family.
Suggitt first rose to national prominence in 1999 as coach of the national women’s team. He coached the women’s team until 2003, when he was appointed head coach of the men’s program following the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
He led the men’s program through the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Suggitt had coached the women’s rugby team at the university since 2015. The university’s teams are known as the Pronghorns.
“He was a larger-than-life figure that demanded the best from all of us but gave back all he had in return, and his energy was contagious. His passing is heartbreaking for all of us in the Pronghorn family. Our hearts and thoughts go out to Jen, their children, family and to all those whose lives he touched,” the university’s athletic department said in statement.
Tait, head coach of the Canada women’s team, said he was devastated by the news.
“I’m still shocked,” he said Tuesday as his team travelled back to Victoria from France, where they were playing in the World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series season-ending tournament in Clermont.
“We’d connect every couple of weeks to talk about coaching and life,” he said. “We were planning a trip together this summer (for our families). Our wives are very close.”
Tait said the outpouring of support for his friend and his legacy was “nice to see.”
“He’s touched a lot of people in rugby. I wouldn’t be a coach if he hadn’t given me the chance.”
The Suggitt family was very close, and Tait said he was thinking of them.
“His kids think the world of him,” he said. “He’s got a lot of brothers, they’re close.”
Former national team captain Mike James was stunned by the news.
“I am shocked. He was a real gentleman and really cared for his athletes,” he said Tuesday after being informed of the news. “Wow. He has such a beautiful family, too. I am at a loss for words.”
Suggitt was known affectionately by his nickname “Sluggo” and was rarely spotted in a pair of shoes. Even when coaching national squads — on top of the senior men’s and women’s teams, he also coached the Under-19, Under-23 and sevens teams — he was often spotted bare-footed.
His impact as a coach goes far and wide and his coaching demeanour made for endless stories. Colette McAuley, now a coach at the University of Guelph, was a player under Suggitt on the national women’s team.
“His style of coaching and passion is something that I’ve tried to replicate,” she said. “He is incredibly caring and that is so important. Players need to know that.”
“I’ve always been hands-on, getting involved in the drills and the games, constant chatter to keep the energy up; the list is endless. I cannot say enough about this wonderful man. He had so much more to do. Damn, it’s a sad, sad day.”
Robin MacDowell played for Suggitt on the national sevens team. He’s now running his own program, MacDowell Rugby, as well as coaching for the Saskatchewan Rugby Union, Rugby Mexico and Rugby Canada.
“As I sit here today at the Mexican Olympic training centre, I can’t help but realize that I would not be here without him,” said MacDowell. “I got the news this morning in the middle of my practice.
“When I had no business being involved with the national sevens program in the early 2000s as a walk on, Ric always made me feel welcome and kept this small kid from Cowichan around for close to five years.”
Adam McCluskey was coached by Suggitt as a young player at the Kingston-based Rugby Canada Academy between 2000 and 2002. Even years later, McCluskey said he’d get a good-natured ribbing from his old coach during games.
“Easily the best motivator I’ve ever witnessed,” McCluskey told Postmedia on Tuesday. “So good at building culture on a team.
“He had nicknames for everyone and they stuck. His personality was big and contagious. You couldn’t help but smile and buy into whatever he was talking about. And his quotes were legendary.”
An avid user of social media, Suggitt’s last Twitter post was on Monday morning and reflected his reputation well. “No Matter What GameHave FUN,” he tweeted.
Suggitt was hired to coach the U.S. women’s sevens team in 2010 and led the program for five years. He then was quickly snapped up by the Lethbridge program.
Rugby Canada and USA Rugby will honour Suggitt’s memory on Saturday during the second leg of their Rugby World Cup qualifier.
“It is with great sadness the Canadian rugby community mourns the sudden passing of Ric Suggitt, someone who did so much for our sport in this country,” Tim Powers, Rugby Canada’s chairman, said in a statement.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends and players in this extremely difficult time.”