The Concordia Stingers men’s rugby team will join forces with the Town of Mount Royal and Montreal Barbarian rugby football clubs to honor the late Ryan Francis this Saturday afternoon at Concordia Stadium.
The memorial event will feature two rugby matches – a first division at 2 p.m. and a second division at noon. The Stingers and TMR will make up one side for both games, and the Barbs will be the opponents.
Last January, it was with great sadness that the Stinger family found itself mourning Ryan Francis, a first-year player with the rugby team. He died of heart failure due to a congenital heart defect.
Ryan grew up in Côte St. Luc, where he developed his love for the game. He played rugby for several years and made many friends with TMR, the Barbs, the Montreal Caribou and the Stingers.
A rookie centre, Ryan was admired by his Concordia teammates for his dedication to hard work both on and off the field. He constantly strived for excellence in everything he did. This, coupled with his never-failing joie de vivre, served as a shining example of what it takes to get the most you can out of everyday of your life.
There will be a short ceremony prior to the noon kickoff. Representatives from the three teams will say a few words in memory of Ryan. In addition friends will pass the hat in the stands to collect donations for the Canadian Heart Foundation.
