December 4 saw the finale of the 2022 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship (CUMRC) brought to you by Raymond James and Lougheed Wealth Management. Once again, the UBC Thunderbirds were victorious, winning their fourth championship in five years, and defeating the McGill Redbirds convincingly in the Gold medal match 48-5.
This year’s tournament was hosted by the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, BC from November 30-December 4. 34 teams competed this year to qualify for the CUMRC through their conference or regional leagues, an increase of 17 per cent from the inaugural 2017 tournament. Eight teams from all regions of Canada won the right to compete at the CUMRC. Returning from 2021 were UBC, UVic, Calgary and Guelph with Trinity Western, Laurier, McGill and Memorial joining them this year.
RESULTS
The results from the twelve matches played over three days follow. All matches were streamed on The Rugby Network (Links shown):
Quarter-finals
- TWU 23, Uvic 22 – https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/2022-canadian-universities-mens-rugby-championship-quarterfinal-uvic-vs-twu-replay
- Guelph 28, Memorial 22 – https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/2022-canadian-universities-mens-rugby-championship-quarterfinal-guelph-vs-memorial-replay
- UBC 53, Calgary 0 – https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/2022-canadian-universities-mens-rugby-championship-quarterfinal-ubc-vs-calgary-replay-1
- McGill 23, Laurier 22 – https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/2022-canadian-universities-mens-rugby-championship-quarterfinal-laurier-vs-mcgill-replay-1
Consolation Semi-finals
- UVic 36, Laurier 12 -https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/uvic-vs-laurier-2022-canadian-university-mens-rugby-consolation-semifinal-replay
- Memorial 29, Calgary 14 – https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/guelph-vs-ubc-2022-canadian-university-mens-rugby-championship-semifinal-replay
Championship Semi-finals
- UBC 37, Guelph 17 – https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/guelph-vs-ubc-2022-canadian-university-mens-rugby-championship-semifinal-replay
- McGill 17, Trinity Western 11 -https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/mcgill-vs-twu-2022-canadian-university-mens-rugby-championship-semifinal-replay
Final Day
- 7 vs. 8:Calgary 20, Laurier 12 -https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/2022-canadian-university-mens-rugby-consolation-final-7v8-live-replay
- 5 vs. 6: UVic 52 , Memorial 15 – https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/2022-canadian-university-mens-rugby-consolation-final-5v6-live-replay
- Bronze medal:Guelph 32, TWU 31 – https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/2022-canadian-university-mens-rugby-championship-bronze-medal-match-replay
- Gold medal:UBC 48, McGill 5 – https://www.therugbynetwork.com/videos/2022-canadian-university-mens-rugby-championship-final-replay
Finishing Results
- 8th: Laurier Golden Hawks
- 7th: Calgary Dinos
- 6 th: Memorial Seahawks
- 5th: UVic Vikes
- 4th: Trinity Western Spartans
- Bronze medal: Guelph Gryphons
- Silver medal: McGill Redbirds
- Gold medal: UBC Thunderbirds
Bob Frid/UBC
Bob Frid/UBC Athletics)
(Bob Frid/UBC Athletics)
Photos from the tournament can be seen here
At the 2022 CUMRC Awards banquet on December 3, eight players – one from each team – were presented with the Lt. Col. W.D.C. Holmes Award recognizing their contributions to the game of rugby off-the-field. Full story.
Also at the banquet, the inaugural Liam Geddes Memorial Award was presented to Relmu Wilson-Valdes of UBC as the outstanding back-row player in the tournament. Full story
And finally, the McGill University Redbirds were named as the second winners of the Jeff Chan Spirit of Rugby Team Award. The Redbirds were selected by the Toronto Arrows selection panel, the tournament officials, and the CUMRC Board, based on their demonstration of the spirit, values, and culture of the game of rugby including respect for their opponents and the officials, competitiveness, good sportsmanship, and community building over the course of the CUMRC tournament.
Gabi Saini/UBC
Following the tournament, the First and Second Team All Stars were announced.
SPONSORS
The 2022 CUMRC Tournament had the generous support of the following sponsors:
- Title sponsor: Raymond James
- Presenting sponsor: Lougheed Wealth Management – Raymond James
- Sustaining sponsors: The Canadian Rugby Foundation, Langara Fishing Adventures, Pemberton-Holmes, Toronto Arrows, and Michael Holmes.
- All Stars sponsor: Toronto Arrows
- Game Sponsors: “For the Love of the Game”
- Player of the Game Sponsors: University of British Columbia
- Official Tournament Balls provided by: Gilbert Canada
- Continuing supporter: Rugby Canada
- Host university: University of British Columbia
- Host university sponsors: Sport Tourism Vancouver, VIA Sport, and the Province of British Columbia, Sheraton Vancouver Wall Centre Hotel
2023 CUMRC
The 2023 CUMRC returns to British Columbia November 15-19 hosted by Trinity Western University in Langley, BC. See you next year!
