NEWS: RSEQ releases men’s rugby schedule, Gee-Gees open on the road
The Gee-Gees men's rugby program will be hoping for a repeat of their 2021 season opener in 2022.
The RSEQ released the 2022 men's rugby schedule Monday. Ottawa will be playing a seven-game regular season circuit that begins at home on Saturday, Sept. 10 against Montreal at Matt Anthony Field.
The 2021 season opener was a record-setting affair for the Gee-Gees. The team's 65-0 victory over Sherbrooke was the most points scored in a single conference match in program history, and set the stage for an outstanding year for the young program.
Ottawa's 2022 home opener is slated to kickoff at 3:00 p.m., following the conclusion of the Carabins and Gee-Gees women's teams' match at 1:00 p.m. Every men's rugby home date will feature a doubleheader with the Gee-Gees women's team.
A stiff test awaits at Percival-Molson Memorial Stadium the following week, when Ottawa faces the McGill Redbirds. The teams' 2021 matchup was extremely tight, with a 31-25 score favouring the Redbirds. Concordia or McGill have won the RSEQ title each season since 2004.
Perhaps the most intriguing game on the Gee-Gees schedule is on Sept. 30 when the Carleton Ravens visit Matt Anthony Field. Carleton is entering a men's rugby team in the RSEQ for the first time in 2022, and this will be the first matchup between the crosstown rivals in conference play.
The playoffs begin Saturday, Oct. 29 with the RSEQ final being played the weekend of Nov. 5. The RSEQ champion earns a berth to the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship, hosted by the University of British Columbia from Nov. 30 through Dec. 4.
The Garnet and Grey enjoyed their best regular season in 2021. Ottawa finished with a winning record for the first time since joining the Quebec conference in 2018 and made the playoffs for the second consecutive season. The team boasted the most potent offence in the conference, scoring 201 points across six regular season matches.
2022 Gee-Gees Men's Rugby Schedule
Sept. 10 vs. Montréal (Season/Home Opener)
Sept. 17 at McGill
Sept. 24 vs. Bishop's
Sept. 30 vs. Carleton
Oct. 8 at ÉTS
Oct. 16 at Sherbrooke
Oct. 22 at Concordia