Francis Laros
Posted on Tuesday March 24th, 2009 @ 01:36:02 pm

Francis Laros joined the Lions way back in 1989, pushed into it by his boss at the time, Red Lion owner Alan Whelan. Born in South Africa in 1963, his rugby exploits have included playing in the Army, a season in France’s third division, and of course, a few decades with the Lions–when he’s not sailing around the world.

A professional photographer (you can see his work here: www.francislaros.com), Laros stays connected to the club with his artful team portraits. The Tribeca denizen shared his experiences with playing with the Lions, swimming with the sharks, and shooting the occasional celeb over an e-pint recently.


A PINT WITH: You’ve circumnavigated the world. What does that mean? How many countries did you visit?

LAROS: I left New York in 1997 on a two-year circumnavigation. Twenty countries, innumerable islands, and 11 years later I completed the voyage. I guess there were too many good places to see and things to do that I just kept going.

APW: What’s the most memorable piece of the journey?

LAROS: The best part of the trip for me was having the freedom to make it up each day as I went along. If I was having fun in a place I could stay as long as I liked and vice versa. My favorite island is Niue. I have been there five times and once stayed for a year. I worked as a beekeeper on the island and opened a beach bar. I made no money and had the time of my life. Check out http://www.niueisland.com/ and plan to go there on your next vacation

APW: Sharks…any good stories?

LAROS: I dived and swam with sharks often and got very used to their behavior. One day, while spearfishing, a six-foot grey reef shark became overly-curious and then aggressive. At first I pushed him away with the speargun every time he got too close. Suddenly he made a dash right at me so I shot him. I had to give up the gun because I did not want to be in an underwater tug-o-war with a pissed off shark.

Mostly, sharks leave one alone. This one was an exception. He was either over-stimulated by the spearfishing or just territorial.

APW: You’re a photog. What do you shoot? Ever shot a supermodel?

LAROS: Damn, I wish I shot fashion and glamour. I work in advertising and most of my work is studio table-top and some portraiture. Once in a while I do location shooting.

I have shot a few celebrities: Jerry Seinfeld, Terry Bradshaw, Allan Iverson, a few Nascar drivers, Ellen DeGeneres…but no super-models. I did shoot Liv Tyler, for an audition for an LA Gear sneaker commercial, when she was 14 years old. Does that count?

APW: What are some memories that stand out from the early Lions days? What keeps you coming back and staying connected with the club?

LAROS: I joined the Lions shortly after they started. It was around 1989. Before that I played for the NYAC. Once Alan Whelan started the Lions I came over. I think I was working for him at the Red Lion, with Thierry, at the time. My memory is shot and I can’t remember much from the past, but I clearly remember the great camaraderie. I started friendships that have endured to this day.

QUICK HITS:
Favorite Drink: Anything they put in a bottle. They are all my friends, although now that I’m getting older I’m moving on to Ensure. It tastes great with vodka and Kahlua, and if comes with extra fibre.
Most Valuable Teammate: Thierry was always inspirational. I remember waiting for the start of an important game. We were missing a few players. Then a car pulled up with Thierry inside. Immediately I knew we would be fine. Few other players I’ve played with, anywhere in the world, can single-handedly make a difference like Thierry.
Best Lions Memory: One of my best Lions memory was coming back to New York about three years ago on a visit. I went to friends and family day and saw friends I had made 15 years earlier still as enthusiastic about the game–and the Lions–as when it was all started. I have no earlier memories because my brain is shot.
Francois Pienaar or John Smit: Francois Pienaar. He played with all his heart, in a far less political arena than John Smit’s, when he won the Webb Ellis trophy.

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