Following on the heels of a recent announcement about the Trent varsity men’s and women’s volleyball teams joining the Ontario University Athletics (OUA), the Trent Excalibur is excited to announce another team will be stepping into OUA competition – men’s rugby will be joining the league for the 2016/17 varsity season.
“The 2016/2017 Varsity Season will be a milestone year for Trent University as it will have all of its varsity teams under the OUA banner,” said Deborah Bright-Brundle, director, Athletics and Recreation for Trent University. “We want to build on our history and focus our varsity program in a position of strength.”
“The past couple weeks have been exciting for both OUA and the Trent Excalibur with the volleyball announcement last week and now the addition of men’s rugby to our league beginning next season,” said Gord Grace, OUA CEO. “I’d like to welcome back the Excalibur men’s rugby team to OUA and wish them the best of luck as they begin their pursuit of the Turner Trophy.”
Commenting on the upcoming move, Excalibur men’s rugby head coach David McCully said, "We've been very pleased with the growth and development of the Trent Men's Rugby program since joining the OCAA for the 2009 season. We now feel the program is in a very strong position to return to the OUA, where we have spent the majority of our 50 year history. The OUA will present exciting challenges for the 2016 season and beyond. Our goal will be to continue the growth and development in the OUA that we have experienced in the OCAA. In doing so, we hope to attract strong, ambitious student-athletes who wish to compete at the highest level in the OUA."
For the last six years, the Excalibur men’s rugby team has competed in the Ontario College Athletic Association (OCAA). In the 2014/2015 season the men’s rugby team both hosted, and placed second, in the OCAA Men’s Rugby Championship.
“I would like to thank the OCAA for the tremendous competitive opportunity they have provided to Trent varsity student-athletes over the last six years,” said Ms. Bright-Brundle.
Posted on Friday, September 25, 2015.