Queen’s to host 2020 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship
Queen’s University, Rugby Canada, and the Canadian Rugby Foundation announced today that the 2020 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship (CUMRC) will be held next November at right here in Kingston.
The championship, which will take place November 25 to 29, 2019, just weeks after Queen’s hosts the 2020 U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship.
“We are excited to be hosting the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship on the heels of our women’s U SPORTS national championship next November,” said Leslie Dal Cin Executive Director, Queen’s University Athletics & Recreation. “Kingston and Queen’s will be the home of rugby in Canada next November and they will be tremendous events supported by our Queen’s and Kingston communities. We look forward to working with Rugby Canada and the Canadian Rugby Foundation as the championship will enter its fourth year and first at Queen’s.”
The CUMRC will feature teams from western Canada, Quebec, the Maritimes, and Ontario, and will use the eight-team format for each team playing on Day 1. Winners will advance to the championship side of the draw, while losing teams will be relegated to a consolation round.
“It’s always fantastic when you host a national competition and I was very pleased when it was confirmed that we would be hosting next year, I know there has been a lot of work going on behind the scenes to make this happen,” said Dave Butcher, Head Coach of the Queen’s Men’s Rugby Team. “The fact that Queen’s will host the women’s rugby U SPORTS championship in 2020 as well means that the Queen’s rugby profile will be massive and all eyes will be on our university over those two competitions. Personally, I know that our team is really looking forward to playing the best teams in Canada on home turf. It’s a big job hosting these types of events but I know that Queen’s does an excellent job hosting and will make this a real event to remember.”
The quarter-final games will take place on November 25, followed by consolation semis on the November 26, and championship semis on the November 27. November 28, will feature the consolation finals, while the medal matches will conclude the championship on November 29.
“The Canadian Rugby Foundation is extremely pleased to see the 4th annual Championship being awarded to Queen’s University,” said Mike Holmes, Chairman of the Canadian Rugby Foundation. “Queen’s have been well deserved contenders for the Championship in the last two years and are a bastion of University Rugby in the East in addition of course to being a globally acclaimed leader in education.”
This will mark the second time the prestigious event takes place in Ontario. The inaugural championship was hosted by the University of Guelph in 2017. In 2018 the event was staged by the University of Victoria, and this year’s event takes place at Concordia November 20 to 24.
“As a Queen’s alumnus myself, I am extremely pleased, and proud that my alma mater will host our fouth Championship,” commented Jeff Chan, Chairman and Co-founder of the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship. “I could hardly have imagined how well the CUMRC has progressed since its inception, and I look forward to working with the Queen’s Organizing Committee, and building on the foundation begun at the University of Guelph, followed by the University of Victoria, and on November 20-24, 2019, Concordia University.”
Ticket information, volunteer opportunities and more event details for the 2020 CUMRC will be shared when they become available, Queen’s University said in a press release on Tuesday, Nov. 5, 2019.
“Kingston is thrilled to be the host city for the 2020 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship in partnership with Queen’s University,” said Megan Knott, Executive Director of Tourism Kingston. “That Kingston will also host the U SPORTS Women’s Rugby Championship just weeks earlier is a testament to the city’s strength as a top sport host city.”
Don’t forget: The Queen’s Gaels Men’s Rugby Team will once again be hosting the OUA championship on Sunday, Nov. 10, 2019, as they welcome the Guelph Gryphons to Nixon Field for a 1 p.m. kick-off. The Gaels will then be off to the National Championship at Concordia looking for their first Canadian title.