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'It was the hardest time of my life': Crusaders coach reveals harrowing COVID-19 battle

(Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)

Crusaders assistant coach Jason Ryan has opened up about his COVID-19 ordeal after he caught the virus during last year’s tour to Europe with Fiji.

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Based out of Limoges in France as part of the Fijian coaching staff for their Autumn Nations Cup campaign last November, Ryan was caught in the thick of the COVID-19 outbreak that left 29 of the 42-man touring party with positive tests.

Ryan was among those that contracted the virus, and, while speaking to Star News, has described his recovery battle as “the hardest time of his life”.

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Despite there being “no problem” in the initial few days following his diagnosis, the symptoms of the virus, which has taken the lives of more than two million people to date, eventually hit Ryan hard.

“On the fourth day it just hit me, it dropped me. It was tough. I went through the process you read about. You lose your taste and smell,” he told Star News.

A deterioration of his breathing proved to be a frightening experience for the 45-year-old, who was taken into hospital for a heart scan.

The results were clear, but that did nothing to ease Ryan’s “aching and sweating” as it felt like his body was “shutting down”.

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“It was like someone was standing on your chest. Imagine you go for a big run, then someone stands on your chest and you’ve got to breathe. I could only breathe about a quarter of the way in.

“It’s hard to explain. It was the hardest time of my life, and the hardest part was FaceTiming family at home.”

Face-to-face calls with family back home in New Zealand ceased as he fought his way back to full health, with Ryan unwilling to let his wife and children see him in the state he was in.

However, reassurances from medical staff that he would return to normal in matter of days eventually proved true, as he and the entire Fijian squad bounced back to beat Georgia 38-24 at Murrayfield in Edinburgh – the only match they played on tour after forfeiting to France, Italy and Scotland.

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“We went through some tough times together. We wanted to have a great week (before Georgia) and we did. I’m sure some resilience genes grew over that time,” Ryan said of his side’s win in Scotland.

Now back in New Zealand after a two-week quarantine period just before Christmas, Ryan is back in Christchurch for pre-season training with the Crusaders as he looks to help guide the franchise to a fifth straight title this year.

Having signed a deal with Fiji that will see him stay on with the Pacific Island nation through until the 2023 World Cup in France, Ryan is simply relieved to be fit and healthy and back on home turf.

“I’m just so grateful,” he told the Star News. “That was my 2020 word: Grateful.”

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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