Ryan Francis of Montreal Barbarians dies at age 20

BY MICHAEL PIASETZKI

The tradition-rich rugby community in the West Island and Quebec finds itself much poorer after recently losing one of its greatest fans and keen participants.

Ryan Francis, a 20-year-old up-and coming second-division and occasional premier team player for the Dollard des Ormeaux-based Montreal Barbarians collapsed on the gymnasium floor at Vanier College in St. Laurent on Jan. 29, following a game of touch rugby. He was taken to Sacré-Coeur Hospital where he died a short time later. An autopsy was taken, but the coroner’s report has not been released. It’s believed Francis, who was in top shape, succumbed to a deep-seeded heart defect that couldn’t be detected through a regular check-up.

“Ryan was one of the fittest guys on the club,” said Barbs veteran second-division player Anders Lafon, who was at Vanier when Francis collapsed. “It’s very difficult to understand and accept. If there is one thing I’d like to emphasize, it is the fact he was attended to with utmost care by three fellow Barbs on the women’s side, one of whom is an emergency room nurse. They did their utmost to try and revive him with diligence and a professional attitude before the ambulance arrived. The doctors at the hospital did all they could to save him as well. Finally, it must be said Ryan did not suffer at all.”

Barbs premier team head coach Jason Thompson said Francis, a Notre Dame de Grâce resident who attended Royal West Academy before going on to Marianopolis College and was in his second year of a political science major at Concordia University, was a work in motion who had not even come close to tapping his full potential as a centre on the rugby pitch. He was named Barbs Junior Rookie of the Year in 2005.

“He (Francis) also won the Ironman Award with our club this past season,” said Thompson. “That’s given to the player who attended the most practices. To be in the Ironman club, you have to attend at least 90 percent of your practices. That shows the passion he had for the Barbs and the sport. Here’s a guy who had injured his knee, his team had been eliminated from the playoffs, but he still was working hard at practice, despite the fact he had trouble running.”

Thompson said that even though it had yet to be officially determined, a Barbs internal award of some kind in honour of Francis would be named in the future.

“Ryan was a big fan of the Barbs,” said Alex Hart, Francis’ best friend and Barbs teammate. “Not the team though, he was a fan of the people. You can talk to anyone who knew Ryan and he or she will tell you he was just the happiest kid ever. His nickname was Smiley, which really says it all. He was a big joker, and a character as well. You know, he really didn’t have a bad bone in his body.”

An only child, Francis is survived by his father Richard, mother Lise, grandparents, aunts, uncles and many friends.