NEWS: RSEQ releases women’s rugby schedule, Gee-Gees open with conference final rematch
The Gee-Gees women's rugby team are setting their sights on an eighth consecutive medal at the U SPORTS National Championship in 2023, and they'll have to be sharp from the outset.
The 2023 RSEQ regular season gets going Saturday, Sept. 2 with the Gee-Gees facing the Laval Rouge et Or in a rematch of the last five conference championship games. The two programs have combined for 11 medals in the last seven National Championship tournaments, with both reaching the podium each year since 2019.
Laval have had Ottawa's number in recent years, winning each of the last two title games, but the Gee-Gees will look to flip the script in the season opener, which kicks off at 4:00 p.m. at Matt Anthony Field.
It will be a home-heavy start to the season for the Gee-Gees, who will have completed their home schedule by Sept. 24. They'll contend with Montreal and McGill at Matt Anthony Field, with a midweek matchup at Carleton on Sept. 20 sandwiched in between.
The Gee-Gees will close out the regular season on the road at Concordia and at Bishop's, before turning their focus to the playoffs.
The RSEQ playoffs begin Oct. 14, with the final scheduled for Oct. 21. The 2023 U SPORTS National Championship runs from Nov. 1 through Nov. 5 at the Université de Laval.
Ottawa posted a 5-1 regular season record in 2022, falling to the Rouge et Or in the RSEQ Championship game. The Gee-Gees rallied at the U SPORTS National Championship, winning the bronze medal by a 29-7 score against the Guelph Gryphons.
Seven straight medals at the U SPORTS National Championship is the second longest streak of all-time, behind Guelph's run of nine consecutive from 2005 through 2013. Ottawa's seven medals overall is fourth behind Guelph (12), StFX (10) and Alberta (9).
2023 Ottawa Gee-Gees Women's Rugby Schedule
Sept. 2 vs. Laval (Home/Season Opener)
Sept. 16 vs. Montreal
Sept. 20 at Carleton
Sept. 24 vs. McGill
Sept. 30 at Concordia
Oct. 8 at Bishop's