Trinity Western University, in partnership with the Langley Events Centre and the Township of Langley, will host the 2023 Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship (CUMRC) at Willoughby Community Park Stadium, Nov. 15-19, 2023.
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 event kicks off Nov. 15 with the quarter-finals, before the semifinals on Nov. 17, and the finals on Nov. 19.
Tournament passes and individual game tickets are available online or at the door.
All matches will be streamed live for free at www.therugbynetwork.com.
Spartans going strong
The Spartans will be competing in the national championship tournament for the second time since the men's rugby program was resurrected at TWU in 2019. Last year, TWU made its debut at the national tournament, earning a fourth-place finish that included a quarter-final upset of the top-seeded University of Victoria.
'A can't-miss tournament'
"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."
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.
The CUMRC tournament seeding and schedule will be announced Friday. For more information, please visit Trinity Western Spartans.
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 and disc golf. Since TWU entered U SPORTS in 1999, the Spartans have won 13 U SPORTS team championships and 33 Canada West team championships.
About Trinity Western University
Founded in 1962, Trinity Western University is a global Christian liberal arts university. We are dedicated to equipping students to discover meaningful connections between career, life, and the needs of the world. Drawing upon the riches of the Christian tradition, seeking to unite faith and reason through teaching and scholarship, Trinity Western University is a degree-granting research institution offering liberal arts and sciences as well as professional schools in business, nursing, education, human kinetics, graduate studies, and arts, media, and culture. It has campuses in Canada in Langley, Richmond, and Ottawa. Learn more at www.twu.ca or follow us on Instagram @trinitywestern, Twitter @TrinityWestern, on Facebook and LinkedIn.