GUELPH, Ont. - On Wednesday, July 8, 2026 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) announced the 2026 schedules for men's and women's rugby. On the men's side, the Gryphons men's rugby team will enter the new season as five-time defending OUA champions after an unforgettable campaign a season ago in which they were crowned Ontario champs, as well as national champions. The Gryphon men will open their new season on Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026 on the road in London against the Western Mustangs, before returning to U of G for their home opener on Saturday, Sept. 19 for a highly-anticipated matchup against their rivals from Kingston, the Queen's Gaels.
 
On the women's side, the Gryphons are coming off a strong 2025 season in which they earned OUA silver medals, followed by a 4th-place finish at nationals. The Gryphon women will open their 2026 season on the road on Labour Day weekend with a Saturday, Sept. 5 road game at Brock. The Gryphons will then return home for their home opener on Friday, Sept. 11 when they host the Laurier Golden Hawks.
 
The 2026 men's and women's rugby seasons will once again consist of a six-game regular season schedule, with OUA playoffs culminating on October 30 (women's OUA championship game) and November 7 (men's OUA championship game). The University of Guelph will also serve as hosts of the 2026 U SPORTS Women's Rugby Championship, with the top eight university women's rugby teams from across the country to set compete for a national title at U of G's Alumni Stadium from November 4-8, 2026.
   
Should the Gryphons men's rugby team once again earn a spot at nationals, the reigning national champion Gryphons would be headed west to British Columbia, with the 2026 Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship set to take place in Langley, BC (Nov. 17-21). For more information on the 2026 OUA rugby schedules, visit www.oua.ca.