How tragedy stopped 'the best centre in England outside the Premiership' and the special tribute in his honour
While professional sport invokes drama, excitement, trials and tribulations for players, coaches, officials and fans alike, thankfully it rarely brings tragedy.
But sadly, in the case of much-missed former Canadian international centre John Cannon, it is difficult to find a more appropriate word.
The hard-hitting midfielder was a hugely popular figure both among the Canadian rugby community and at Rotherham, Coventry and Doncaster, where during the first decade of the 21st century he was widely considered as the best midfielder in England outside the Premiership.
But shortly before the 2007 World Cup, his promising career came to an abrupt halt at the age of 26 based on medical advice following a series of bad head injuries.
And nine years later, Cannon suffered a sudden, totally unexpected fatal heart attack. He was just 35.
Cannon won 31 Canadian caps in a career which included a starting appearance against New Zealand at the 2003 World Cup.
Just over a decade on, his successors in the red shirt visit Marseilles during November seeking to prevent Germany, Kenya or Hong Kong from claiming the final spot at Japan 2019.
En route to the south of France, the Canucks are warming up against Cannon’s former club Coventry at the Butts Park Arena on bonfire night, and with his father Peter in attendance, it promises to be an emotional occasion.
Continue reading below…
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The powerful midfielder wore Cov’s historic blue-and-white hoops with great distinction between 2003 and 2005, during which time he became great friends with teammate Ben Gulliver.
Then a young second row, now, via Plymouth, Cornish Pirates, Worcester and Bedford, he is an integral part of Coventry’s thriving community programme, Gulliver has many fond memories of the man he refers to simply as JC, who he said made an instant impression both on and off the field.
“JC was a very abrasive, tough No.12 who ran hard and hit hard, but also distributed well,” he said.
“He was one of Canada’s youngest-ever players, and very highly respected within their team. If it wasn’t for the rules around numbers of non-English qualified players, I’m sure he would have been picked up by a Premiership club – Gloucester certainly had a good look at him.
“He was a real fans’ favourite at Coventry during the season-and-a-half he was here, and also at Doncaster where he went afterwards. It was a huge shame that he had to retire so young.
“In those days, the Cov bus back from away games was pretty boozy, and John and I got to know each other returning from an away trip to Yorkshire.
“We became very close, training together in the day then going out in the evenings in Leamington which was where the Canadians lived while they were here.
“At the end of that season JC was really keen that I went to Canada, and another one of our teammates, Jared Barker was getting married in Hawaii. I had John as my tour operator, finding the cheapest way for me to go around North America, it was three-and-a-half weeks of amazing times.
“Everyone will remember John off the field as a real party guy, but also someone who could go into any circle and be comfortable.”
After being named in the 2004 and 2005 National One (as the Championship was then known) dream teams, Cannon moved back to Yorkshire with Doncaster, and in 2006 Rugby World Magazine described him as “perhaps the best centre in England outside the Premiership.”
PLS RT | Cov V @RugbyCanada is just 6 days away! Advance tickets are the best option ➡️ https://t.co/pLZiCLBX9E #CovVCan #Underthelights #InternationalRugby pic.twitter.com/wul2Kn9m6H
— Coventry Rugby (@CoventryRugby) October 30, 2018
After the medics called time on his playing days, Cannon returned to North America, and was working in his native Abbotsford for an IT company in a business development role when a tragedy that was felt across the Atlantic struck.
“Jared messaged me saying ‘this is not a joke, JC has passed away,’ Gulliver recalled, “and I couldn’t believe it.
“I drove an hour from Welwyn Garden City to Bedford, beside myself in floods of tears, asking why and how and what had happened.
“It turned out he’d had a massive heart attack out of nowhere. It is all still very raw for his family, girlfriend Christina and friends – I know every time I come into the club at Coventry and see his name on the honours board I am reminded of him.
“I went to the funeral, and took messages on behalf of the English clubs he played for. This match is a special occasion when I’m sure for a lot of people some fond memories will come flooding back.”
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Comments on RugbyPass
Etzebeth went on to say: “I would never dream of saying that systems stay in place following a change in captain. To say that would be deeply, deeply, disrespectful of Siya. A while back an Irish person told me they would be fine without Sexton, so I’m just responding to that.”
3 Go to commentsClose games are what we want to see…. What a match it was…. I am sure that everyone was drained by the end of it. The reality of it all there has to be a winner and a loser. The fact that we still talking about it is almost 6 months to the day Rugby is the winner.. Asante sana… Here is to 2027 and what it will bring out.
182 Go to commentsIt’s going to be a good game. COYQ
1 Go to comments“Shock”, the guy was casually saying he was just slightly surprised. Nowadays if you say anything it gets taken completely out of context. Calm down everyone.
156 Go to commentsAll I can say after reading this bitter, sour, sad piece is… Thank you very much! This will be read in the change room just before kick off on 31 August…
182 Go to commentsLook, we know contradicting opinions and wacky comments bring readers and clicks, so well done to RP for allowing always-wrong-Ben to say something here. However RP needs to put a disclaimer next to his comments for their own credibility. NZ was and is incapable of acknowledging their opp beating them. They refused so with Ire and with Arg in 2022 and also the Boks in 2023 x 2. Nothing Ben says here holds water, NZ attacked backwards, except when Kolisi and Kolbe was off And cyncialy took out Bongi, we played without lineouts for 75mins. Kolisi and Kurt-Lee almost scored twice. Thats 3 vs 2 for Boks, but the Boks opportunities was legal. Boks should have been 16-3 up by half time. Tacticaly the Boks attacked better defended better scrummed better (without a hooker) kicked better and crossed the whitewash more times. Boks beat Fr Eng Nz to win in 23, comeon give some credit at least. Even Federer Verstappen NY Mets, Mamoa, was able to see a great human sport achievement by the Boks and their DNA Boks #RWC27 !🏉
182 Go to commentsForget the 85kg bit, that can become something else. However I do like the one off test on ANZAC day idea. SR plays Fri/ Sat, test players travel Sunday and the squads have the full week together before playing Saturday. Rest of SR has a week off. Either involve women's teams in same location or in the other country and rotate annually. Herbert is right in that change is needed.
3 Go to commentsI’ve read loads of nonsense before but this article takes the cake. Or perhaps someone changed the date for April Fool's Day.
3 Go to commentsReally Rugbypass? Ben Smith I think you forgot what the Springboks did to the All Blacks at Twickenham 8 weeks earlier? Springboks 35 All Blacks 7. There is alot of ifs and buts in your article. The All Blacks threw the sink at the Springboks and unfortunately they were not good enough regardless if they played with 14 men or not. It was the Springboks who forced the All Blacks to make mistakes! Sorry but not Sorry the Springboks is the best ever Rugby World Cup Nation in the world. 4 Cups baby!
182 Go to commentsYou just backed the Boks with that fantastic review! Well done! Have some cake!
182 Go to commentsBen Smith please write up something better than this. The Springboks would have won the world cup if you were 15 men on the field. They would have found a way, they always find a way to beat the All Blacks.
182 Go to commentsWow, there is a lot of “could have” and “ should have” in this waist of time dribble. I love the desperation in this story to search for a glimpse at a silver lining. Here are the facts, NZ was a badly coached and undisciplined shadow of their former glory. They never took the lead in a game they were never going to win.
182 Go to commentsGOTTA MAKE ‘THE GEORGE’ HAPPEN!!!! That’s a great idea! A trans Tasman midget battle on ANZAC Day. I don’t think the ABs Wallabies game should be a one off winner takes all though, just the first match with the other two later in the year with the RC. Reason being, no one will ever shut up about how aussies couldn’t win it when it was a 3 match series.
3 Go to comments@Ben smith. Thats knock out rugby. So honeslty who cares?
182 Go to commentsIt will interesting to know which Irish players said that…
2 Go to commentsNaaaww boys will be boys! Now run along ya wee scamp! Don’t let us catch you at again😏
1 Go to commentsGreat to have Ethan Blackadder back in the Crusaders in the last few weeks. One of the best all round loose forwards around. He played so well last week against the Rebels. Fantastic attitude Ethan has and his comments are spot on.
2 Go to commentsThe author is 100% right. The Springboks know that they don't have near the natural attraction, mana, skill and mystic the All Blacks have. So, Chasing the sun 1 & 2 was concocted to overblow the Boks image on the back of a corruptly obtained “win". It's marketing ploy to force the Boks delusion as the World's Best. I guess World Rugby is also not to be believed when it came out with an apology about how the final was officiated. And if the 2023 final such a superb game by the Boks, then the Boks crying about Referee Bryce Lawrence for decades is also deserves a laugh. Chase the sun and get burned like a moth. A very well written literary piece that tore the Boks and Chasing the sun farce to shreds. 🖤All Blacks🏉
182 Go to commentsI’d say France was far more hard done by in the 2011 final than the All Blacks in this game. Joubert simply refused to call a penalty against the All Blacks in the last quarter even directing an All Black to drop a ball he picked up in an offside position rather than penalizing him. This article also totally discounts the efforts of PSTD. Ask Jordie how well he played. Or the backup flank who played hooker for the entire game. Siya was also a brilliant tackle by Richie from scoring a blinder. Pollard was also fantastic. Look I don’t like the boks style but the only thing more questionable than the content of this article is the timing of it. Get over it already
182 Go to commentsDad Marty was also a handy rugby player for Linwood back in the day. Great bloke. Sensational softball career.
2 Go to comments