USA Rugby mourns passing of Ric Suggitt

LAFAYETTE, Colo. – USA Rugby expresses its deepest condolences to the family of former Women’s Eagles Sevens Head Coach Ric Suggitt, who passed away early Tuesday morning to medical complications.

“Our hearts go out to Ric’s family and his extended rugby family, a family that is spread throughout North America and the world,” USA Rugby CEO Dan Payne said. “I was always proud to call Ric a friend, enjoyed his company, and he frequently brought a smile to my face, as he did to so many. He will be greatly missed and always remembered as a great man for North American Rugby. Thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends during this time.”

Coach of Canada’s international sevens sides in the mid-2000s and the senior men’s national team at Rugby World Cup 2007, Suggitt led the U.S. Women’s Sevens National Team from 2010 to the launch of the HSBC World Rugby Women’s Sevens Series and a bronze medal at Rugby World Cup Sevens 2013, through the end of the 2014-15 Series season. His final involvement with the program was a successful Rio 2016 Olympic Summer Games qualifying campaign at the 2015 NACRA Sevens Championships.

An active member of the Southern California and broader American Rugby community throughout his time with the Eagles and a family man north of the border, Suggitt was the head women’s rugby coach at University of Lethbridge at the time of his passing.