The Ric Suggitt Women’s Rugby Memorial Award is awarded to a Pronghorn women’s rugby student-athlete who demonstrates exceptional leadership both on and off the field. (Photo: University of Lethbridge Pronghorns)

By Christian Oldale

University of Lethbridge women’s rugby scholarship highlights leadership

Jan 18, 2024 | 4:09 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – A student-athlete award at the University of Lethbridge (U of L) is recognizing the importance of leadership in memory of a former coach.

Ric Suggitt joined the U of L as the women’s rugby coach in 2015, and led the team to a surprising run to the National Championships. Before joining the Pronghorns, Suggitt held coaching positions with the Canadian National Women’s Team, the Canadian National Men’s Team, and the U.S. Women’s 7’s team.

Suggitt tragically passed away in 2017 due to a brain hemorrhage. In his honour, the U of L created the Ric Suggitt Women’s Rugby Memorial Award, awarded to a Pronghorn women’s rugby student-athlete who demonstrates exceptional leadership both on and off the field.

In 2023, Bernadine and Toby Boulet donated $20,000, creating a permanent endowment. The Boulet family had known Suggitt through their work at the University, and Suggitt was a fitness trainer for Logan Boulet, and three other SJHL players from Lethbridge.

Toby Boulet said Ric was a big inspiration on Logan, “Logan and Ric created a bond. When Ric passed it hit Logan and the boys quite hard.”

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Toby added that Ric was an organ donor, which inspired Logan to become one himself when he turned 21. “Logan turned to me and said ‘I want to be an organ donor like Ric. Ric donated six of his organs when he died and saved six lives, and I can do the same.”

The donation of Logan’s organs following the Humboldt Broncos bus crash saved six lives, and led to the largest number of organ donor registrations in Canadian history.

Any donations to the award will be matched by the University’s Board of Governors. Boulet said they are sitting at $80,000 going towards the award right now, and looking to reach $100,000 with another donation of $10,000 that will be matched.

Boulet elaborated further, “If we can get it to $100,000 that’s great because it will draw $4,000 per year in scholarships for the women’s rugby program. That’s what Ric would have wanted, and that’s what Logan would have wanted, so that’s what we’re going to do.”

Anyone looking to contribute to the Ric Suggitt Women’s Rugby Memorial Award can do so at the Pronghorns’ website.

READ MORE: Lethbridge News Now.

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