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Veteran rugby coach Francois Ratier joins Toronto Arrows as a consultant

TORONTO — Veteran coach Francois Ratier is joining the Toronto Arrows as a consultant effective Jan. 2. Ratier led the Canadian women's team to the final of the 2014 Rugby World Cup, where it lost 21-9 to England.

TORONTO — Veteran coach Francois Ratier is joining the Toronto Arrows as a consultant effective Jan. 2.

Ratier led the Canadian women's team to the final of the 2014 Rugby World Cup, where it lost 21-9 to England. He also served as interim head coach of the Canadian men's team in 2016, helping it to a second-place finish at the Americas Rugby Championship.

A native of France, Ratier came to Canada in 2003 after a 10-year spell playing for his hometown club in Charente. The former winger took up a coaching role with Rugby Club de Montreal, before moving to McGill, Concordia and the Ste-Anne-de-Bellevue club.

He also served as head coach of Quebec’s provincial program.

After his time with the Canadian men's and women's teams, Ratier coached Rugby Canada's academy before returning to Rugby Quebec in 2018.

“Francois has worked with a number of us on the current Arrows staff since he started his coaching career in Canada close to 20 years ago, and has a unique and refreshing way of looking at the game,” Arrows COO and GM Mark Winokur said in a statement.

The Arrows kick off their fourth Major League Rugby season on Feb. 6 at the Seattle Seawolves.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 9, 2021

The Canadian Press