First national championship in decades for men’s rugby
The University of Guelph will host the inaugural Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship in November.
The competition will be an important step for men’s rugby as they hope to be recognized and sanctioned by U Sports, as women’s rugby already is, in the future.
Rugby Canada, the Canadian Rugby Foundation, and the University of Guelph will put on the event at Guelph’s Varsity Field, with the bronze medal game and the final being played at Alumni Stadium.
The event will take place from November 16 to 19.
“It’s super exciting,” said head coach Cory Hector in an interview with The Ontarion. “We’ve been top two the last three years, so with an OUA school hosting we always felt like we would be in it.”
“Just to be able to play a part to help it get off the ground from a U of G standpoint, and then from a U of G men’s rugby standpoint, it’s just really exciting to have something to progress to after the season ends.”
The Gryphons men’s rugby team won their first OUA championship since 1998 last year in a thrilling penalty kick showdown against the Queen’s Gaels and are looking to continue that success this year.
The team will get a bid to the tournament either by winning the OUA title again or by being the host team.
Guelph will face tough competition in their OUA rivals, as well as squads from the University of British Columbia and the University of Victoria, both of which boast rosters full of national team athletes.
Hector explained that having graduated 17 players last year, the team is in a bit of a rebuild.
The young players coming up are showing well and still winning games, but the road ahead is tough.
The tournament will also allow for Rugby Canada to send scouts for the national team program meaning that many of these athletes will have a chance to be recognized by the national team — something that was much more difficult to attain without a national championship.
“For all the guys that are currently here I think it’s an amazing opportunity, and from a recruitment standpoint knowing that there’s going to be a national championship we can retain a few more athletes,” Hector continued.
With the support from the OUA, other university conferences, and Rugby Canada, the hope is that this championship will continue for years to come, helping grow the sport and providing opportunities for athletes all over the country to play at the highest level.
Photo provided by Fraser Caldwell