Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
Former Rugby Canada president and national senior men’s head coach Dr. Pat Parfrey has been chosen to represent Canada on the newly expanded World Rugby Council. World Rugby recently announced a reform to their governance, handing voting rights to a number of Tier 2 nations.
Chris LeFevre was Canada’s previous representative on the IRB Council, while Bob Latham has been serving on the executive committee as the representative for NACRA (North America Caribbean Rugby Association). Dr. Parfrey will be Canada’s first appointment with voting rights on the new council.
Rugby Canada Chairman Pat Aldous says the decision was an easy one.
“Pat’s level of engagement with our current operations, knowledge of our strategic objectives, and well-established international rugby relationships make him an obvious choice for this appointment.”
A distinguished physician and professor at Memorial University in Newfoundland, Dr. Parfrey emigrated to Canada in 1982 from London, where he was coach of London Irish. As a player he represented Munster for several years and won a senior cap for Ireland on the wing against New Zealand in 1974.
In addition to coaching Canada at the 1999 World Cup, Dr. Parfrey has been a prominent coach and administrator in Newfoundland and Atlantic rugby for more than 30 years. He was named an Officer of the Order of Canada in 2005, one of the country’s most prestigious achievements.
