UBC claim inaugural Canadian University Championship

The UBC Thunderbirds have won the inaugural Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship. Six teams from across the country competed at the four-day event hosted by Guelph University. In the end it was the pre-tournament favorites who emerged victorious, defeating the UVic Vikes 37-12 at a snowy Alumni Stadium on Sunday.

McMaster got the best of the Gryphons in the Bronze match, a memorable achievement for the Marauders who had finished third in the OUA division. In fact they might not have been participating at all, only receiving an invitation when OUA champions Queen’s opted not to participate, a regrettable decision that attracted no shortage of online commentary.

As it is the tournament came off as planned despite numerous challenges for organizers and a very short turnaround once they were given the green light. Cold and blustery conditions were not ideal though they did not reach the absurdly unreasonable settings of the USports Women’s Championship.

As expected the gulf in class between the BC and Ontario teams and the rest was significant and something that achieving greater parity will be a herculean task moving forward especially for the Atlantic representatives who do not enjoy full varsity status.

A tournament Dream Team was selected at completion with the top four sides represented. UBC led the way with eight nominations, McMaster three, and two each from UVic and Guelph.

POOL STAGE RESULTS

POOL A
UBC Thunderbirds 46 – 0 Concordia Stingers
Corcordia Stingers 11 – 38 McMaster Marauders
UBC Thunderbirds 38 – 6 McMaster Marauders

POOL B
Guelph Gryphons 66 – UPEI Panthers
UVic Vikes 95 – 0 UPEI Panthers
Guelph Gryphons 11 – 11 UVic Vikes

BRONZE FINAL
McMaster Marauders 28 – 3 Guelph Gryphons

GOLD FINAL
UVic Vikes 12 – 37 UBC Thunderbirds