NEWS: RSEQ releases men’s rugby schedule, Gee-Gees open at home

The Gee-Gees men's rugby program won't have to wait long to exercise the demons of their 2022 conference championship loss, and they'll be able to do it on home turf.

The RSEQ released the 2023 men's rugby schedule in late May. Ottawa will be playing a six-game regular season circuit that begins at home on Saturday, Sept. 16 against Montreal at Matt Anthony Field. 

This will be the second consecutive season the Gee-Gees will open at home against the Carabins, who gave Ottawa all they could handle in a tight 18-11 affair last season.

McGill will be at Matt Anthony Field Sept. 24 for a rematch of the 2022 conference championship game. The Redbirds have had the Gee-Gees number through the program's first four seasons of RSEQ play, as Ottawa has never defeated McGill and have twice had their season end at the hands of the Redbirds. This will be the seventh meeting between the programs, but only the second at Matt Anthony Field. 

Both of the men's rugby teams' first two games will be double-headers with the Gee-Gees women's team. The women's games kickoff at 1:00 p.m. with the men's following shortly thereafter.

Following a road date with Concordia and a home confrontation with the Bishop's Gaiters, Ottawa heads across town to contest the Pumpkin Bowl with the Carleton Ravens. The fabled game was played for the first time since 2017 last year, with Ottawa emerging convincing victors. 

The Gee-Gees wrap-up the regular season on the road against ÉTS, with the playoffs beginning Friday, Oct. 27. The RSEQ Final is slated for Friday, Nov. 3, with a berth at the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship on the line. The Championship is being hosted at Trinity Western University from Nov. 15-19 in Langley, B.C.

The RSEQ regular season is down to six games from the seven played in 2022 as the Sherbrooke Vert & Or will not be competing in conference action this season. The Gee-Gees only saw action in six games 2022 – their seventh match was a forfeit by Sherbrooke.

2023 Men's Rugby Schedule

Sept. 16 v. Montreal (Season/Home Opener)

Sept. 24 v. McGill (Rematch of 2022 RSEQ Final)

Sept. 30 at Concordia

Oct. 7 v. Bishop's

Oct. 14 @ Carleton (Pumpkin Bowl)

Oct. 21 @ ÉTS