Dr. P. S. (Pat) Parfrey (2001 – 2004)
Cork in Munster, Ireland was the birthplace of Padraic Seosamh Parfrey, in 1950. He started playing, at thirteen years-of-age, at C.B.C. Preparatory in Cork. From very humble beginnings, his playing career took him to lofty places.
During his medical school training at University College Cork, where he was awarded a MB degree (with first class honors) in 1975, he played for his University from 1970 to his graduation. He also played for his provincial team, every match Munster played during the period 1970 to 1977, including the historic 3 -3 draw with New Zealand in 1973.
He played one match for his country, that being against the All Blacks in 1974. He had the distinction of playing three games in succession that year, against the All Blacks, for the Combined Universities of Ireland, Munster and Ireland.
His medical training took him to London where he played for and coached London Irish R.F.C. from 1976 to 1982. He led the Irish team which reached the John Player Cup Final in 1980. He also played representative rugby for Middlesex County.
Prior to Pat leaving his native land in 1982 and moving to Montreal, he was awarded an MD degree from U.C.C.. While in Montreal, he became involved with the Montreal Irish R.F.C. over the period 1983 – 84. Dr. Parfrey eventually settled in St. John’s, Newfoundland, where he played with the Swilers Rugby Club until his retirement in 1985.
In 1984 Pat was appointed Assistant Professor of Medicine. He became Chief of the Division of Nephrology in 1987, chief of the Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Professor of Medicine in 1993. His research interests include the genetic and clinical epidemiology of inherited diseases, patient-related problems in Nephrology and healthcare delivery research.
Despite being extremely busy with his academic pursuits, Parfrey significantly expanded his coaching activities. He was appointed, in 1985, as the coach of the Newfoundland team and he continues in that capacity to today. He became involved, in one coaching capacity or another, with almost every age group team in the province. His next coaching adventure was with the Canadian Senior Men’s Team, a four year odyssey which commenced in 1996. He led the team into and through the 1999 Rugby World Cup in France.
Pat was elected to the Board of Directors of Rugby Canada in 2000 and he was elected as its President in the following year, and he toiled, honorably, in that capacity for three terms. Over the course of this period he faced all the myriad of challenges which faced the country’s Rugby leadership with the same passion and determination that he exhibited in all his endeavors. Playing numbers across the country continued to expand and the problems with registration persisted.
The structure of the Rugby Canada board was changing and evolving. Dealing with the finances of the National administration was becoming more problematic with more and varied teams and programs clamoring for support from financial resources which were doing anything but grow. Pat continued as a member of the board after stepping down from the presidency in 2004, serving until 2007. In 2007, he turned his many skills and energies toward the leadership of the Rugby Canada Super League, as he was appointed as its Commissioner. In 2009, he joined the board of the Canadian Rugby Foundation.
Dr. Parfrey, in relation to his medical activities, has gathered a number of very significant awards. For both his contributions to medical science and Rugby, he was, in 2004, awarded the very prestigious Officer of the Order of Canada. In 2008 he was made a Fellow of the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and in 2009 he was made a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. His present rank at Memorial University is University Research Professor and he is currently the staff nephrologist for Eastern Health, Newfoundland.
Pat’s proudest moment in almost five decades of Rugby would be as the coach of the Newfoundland Rock when they won their first National Championship, in 2004, with three sons playing in the side.
Contact Information
Rugby Canada
30 East Beaver Creek Road
Suite 110
Richmond Hill, Ontario
L4B 1J2 Canada
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