Burlington, Ont. - From leadership off the field to excellence on it, this year's contingent of men's rugby award winners and all-stars represent the very best of Ontario University Athletics (OUA). A strong rookie campaign complements a seasoned core of veteran standouts led by Queen's Gaels Marcus D'Acre, the 2025 player of the year.

Player of the Year - Marcus D'Acre, Queen's Gaels

It was a highlight reel season for the Queen's Gaels fly half who added to his conference honours with the player of the year nod. The fourth-year economics major scored three tries and kicked a spectacular 21 converts through the uprights, good for third in the OUA in the latter.

His efforts this season were good for 57 points, putting him second among the league's leaders. The Mississauga, Ont. product was a standout on the pitch for the Gaels this year pushing them to a strong 4-2 regular season finish, vying for the OUA championship.  

Rookie of the Year - Jack Gore, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks

Gore came ready to play in his debut season with the purple and gold, as he earned the start in the first game of the year. The fly half led the OUA with 86 points in 2025, an impressive feat for a rookie.

The Mississauga, Ont. native split the uprights 29 times to ultimately lead the league in conversions. He also scored six tries to help the Laurier Golden Hawks finish with a perfect 6-0 season, their first undefeated campaign in program history.

According to his coaches, Gore's leadership for someone so young is phenomenal to see.

Community Service Award - Jakob Schulz, Guelph Gryphons

Schulz is a leader in his community and gives back in many ways. The veteran Gryphon is a Big Brother to a local first grade student, always providing a listening ear for his Little Brother and supporting the things he is passionate about. One of his Little Brother's favourite things is hockey, something the sport and event management student is very familiar with.

This past season, working in collaboration with the women's rugby program, Schulz led a  collection of winter clothing, coats, hats and gloves. These essential winter items were donated to Hope House Guelph.

Coach of the Year - Cory Hector, Guelph Gryphons

It is impressive enough being named coach of the year once in your career, but doing it three times and twice in a row is a cut above the rest. The Gryphons' bench boss has done that and more.

In his 10th year on the Gryphon bench, Hector led Guelph to yet another 6-0 season, earning them the top seed in the OUA and the opportunity to host the provincial championship.

Under his leadership, the Gryphons dominated the field and outscored their opposition 374 to 47.

Hector has led the Gryphons to four consecutive conference championships and five overall during his tenure. They will play for their fifth provincial title in a row and a sixth for Hector this week.

MAJOR AWARDS

Player of the Year - Marcus D'Acre, Queen's Gaels

Rookie of the Year - Jack Gore, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks

Community Service Award - Jakob Schulz, Guelph Gryphons

Coach of the Year - Cory Hector, Guelph Gryphons