LANGLEY, B.C. – Trinity Western University, in partnership with the Langley Events Centre and the Township of Langley, has been selected to host the 2023 Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship (CUMRC) at Willoughby Stadium Nov. 15-19, 2023.
Trinity Western, Rugby Canada and the Canadian Rugby Foundation announced the Langley-based University will host the national championship at the soon-to-be revamped Willoughby Community Park in Langley.
"We are so excited to have the opportunity to host this National Championship," said TWU Director of Athletics Jeff Gamache. "It is an important step in the evolution of our program and I am thrilled to bring this level of rugby to the Langley area for our great Spartan fans. With a top quality facility as our home base, this will be a can't miss tournament."
After TWU relaunched its rugby program in 2019, the men's 15s team has climbed the ranks of Canadian university rugby in remarkable fashion. This past weekend, the program made history by earning its first-ever CUMRC victory in its first-ever championship appearance after beating the top-seeded University of Victoria in the CUMRC quarter-final.
The 2023 event will mark the third time the CUMRC has been held in B.C., with the Victoria hosting the event in 2018 and UBC hosting in 2022.
The CUMRC will feature eight teams competing for the Spence McTavish Trophy, named after the UBC Rugby legend and former Canadian national team captain.
The breakdown of teams sees representation from regions across Canada with TWU guaranteed a berth as host. The five-day tournament will kick off with each team playing in quarter final action on day one. The winners advance to the championship side of the draw, while the losing teams are relegated to a consolation round.
This will be the fourth time TWU has hosted a national championship tournament, but it will be the first time hosting the CUMRC. Previously, TWU hosted U SPORTS championship tournaments in women's soccer (2008), men's soccer (2009) and men's volleyball (2011). In all three championships, the Spartans medalled at home, winning the national title in women's soccer and men's volleyball and winning a bronze medal in men's soccer.
About Spartan Athletics
As official members of U SPORTS, the Spartans currently compete in 13 sports in the Canada West conference, including women's and men's soccer, volleyball, basketball, hockey, cross country and track & field, as well as women's rugby sevens. TWU also competes as an independent team in men's rugby. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 13 U SPORTS team championships and 32 Canada West team championships.
About Trinity Western University
Recognized for quality, TWU has received seven consecutive A+ rankings for Quality of Teaching and Learning, holds three Canada Research Chairs, and has won 13 national championships in athletics. More importantly, lives are changed at TWU through its whole-person, Christ-centred approach to education. With a wide array of undergraduate, graduate, and adult degree-completion programs, TWU equips leaders of character and competence to make a positive impact in the lives of others.
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