GUELPH, Ont. - On Saturday, September 9, 2023, the Guelph Gryphons men's rugby team's quest for a sixth conference title will begin as the 2023 OUA men's rugby regular season kicks off. The Gryphons will head Waterloo for a rematch with the team they defeated in the 2022 OUA Championship game, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks. The 2022 season saw one of the most impressive seasons of Gryphon rugby in recent memory, going 5-1 in regular season play before culminating with a 28-19 victory over the Golden Hawks to claim their 5th conference title in program history and second in as many seasons. Following the OUA title match, the Gryphons then went on to produce their best-ever result at the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championships,
where they secured a national bronze medal with a narrow 32-31 win over the Trinity Western Spartans.
The 2023 OUA men's rugby season will once again see 10 programs acrossthe province compete in a six-game regular season schedule. The two teams who finish atop the conference standings at the conclusion of the regular season will receive a bye through the quarterfinal round of the OUA postseason and advance directly to the OUA semifinals. The teams featured in this year's conferences championship game will earn admittance into the 2023 Canadian University Men's Rugby Championships in Langley, British Columbia, with Trinity Western University serving as hosts.
This season the Gryphons roster will once again feature a strong group of returning student-athletes, combined with exciting incoming talent, as they look to three-repeat as conference champions. The reigning OUA Rookie of the Year,
Owen Williams, returns for his sophomore season with the Gryphons in 2023. The second-year back row standout from Pickering, Ontario quickly showcased his ability at the OUA level in 2022 and performed best when it mattered most. The Gryphons also return starting fullback and 2022 OUA All-Star,
Kobe Faust, who routinely demonstrated his game-changing talent in 2022. The fourth-year (third year of eligibility) marketing student took over kicking duties for the U of G squad in 2022 and was lights out, scoring 16 converts and a single penalty kick in the postseason and at nationals.
The Uxbridge native will also bring another season of professional experience with him after appearing in 11 games with the Toronto Arrows of Major League Rugby.
Brenden Black, also a member of the Arrows and the youngest player in Major League Rugby, will look to return to his 2022 postseason form where he put on an impressive stretch of performances. Black missed the entire regular season in 2022 but was an impact player in the postseason, scoring in all three matches at the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championships, including a game-winning score of the final play against the Memorial Sea-Hawks.
Prop and local Guelph product Charles Trollip returns for his sophomore season with the program after spending time on the international stage competing with the Canadian U20 team in Uruguay and south of the border in South Carolina. A pair of Gryphon student-athletes return for their fourth seasons with the team (third season of eligibility) in
Jacob Ince and
David Scollon. Both Ince (Oakville, ON) and Scollon (Mississauga, ON) have been reliable players for the Gryphons at centre and hooker, respectively, and will look to aid the team in their title defence in 2023.
The 2023 Gryphons also welcome a pair of new faces who will look to make an immediate impact this season. Tadi Murewa is in after transferring from the University of Victoria. From the international stage, the Gryphons will see
Quinn Foley join the team. The Oakville, Ontario native competed with the Canadian U18 team this past summer in the Netherlands and has also competed with the Oakville Crusaders Rugby Club.
"Overall, this group has come into the 2023 season focused and keen on defending the title," says Gryphons head coach,
Cory Hector, now in his 8th season in charge of the U of G men's rugby program. "The team realizes that the competition in the OUA is only getting tougher and the need to perform on a weekly basis is paramount to our success. Despite losing some key student-athletes this past offseason we have a number of players who have developed extremely well and are ready to step into those roles and show the conference what they can do. With this combination of returning players, and incoming talent, everyone in the program is excited to see what happens when we return to the pitch for 2023."
The Gryphons open their season on the road in a rematch of the 2022 OUA Championship game when they head to Waterloo on Saturday, September 9 to take on the Laurier Golden Hawks at 12pm. The team will play their home opener on September 16 when they host the Trent Excalibur at Varsity Field. The game is set to be played at 3:30pm and will serve as the second half of the "Gryphon Rugby Day" doubleheader, with the women's rugby team taking on U of T Varsity Blues at 1pm.
