Banner Season: Gryphons Defeat Queen’s, 43-21, Claim Fifth Straight OUA Title

GUELPH, Ont. (via the Guelph Gryphons) – For a program-record fifth consecutive season, the Guelph Gryphons are OUA champions in men’s rugby. Thursday night (Nov. 6) in front of 1,103 fans at the University of Guelph’s Varsity Field, the Gryphons poured in 31 points in the 2nd half to pull away from the visiting Queen’s Gaels, with Guelph winning 43-21 to hoist the Turner Trophy for a fifth straight year. It is the eighth OUA title in program history for the Gryphons.

After a tight opening half of play, which saw Guelph leading 12-7 at the break, a flurry of tries early in the 2nd half would help the Gryphons take control of the 2025 OUA title game. Guelph scored three tries in a six-minute span, with Logan Cako, Owen Williams and Dylan Shaw, all touching down to turn a 12-7 game into a commanding 24-7 lead for the Gryphons. Gryphons fourth-year standout 8-man, Owen Williams, helped lead the way, with the OUA All-Star recording three tries on the night.

"Full credit to Queen's, they made that game close and forced us to dig deep," says Gryphons head coach Cory Hector, who was named the 2025 OUA Coach of the Year and who has now led the Gryphons to six OUA titles (2025, 2024, 2023, 2022, 2021 & 2016) in his 10 years in charge. "The start of that second half, we were really able to open it up, and the impact from our players off the bench was incredible. What stands out with this 2025 team is the tremendous veteran leadership. Their calm demeanor, their attention to detail, and their ability to push those around them has been outstanding. But on top of our veteran leadership, we also have a really impressive youth movement in the squad, with three first-year players dressing today, several impact second-year players, it's inspiring for the future of the program."

Thursday night’s matchup marked the third straight season, and fourth time in the past five years, in which Queen’s and Guelph have met up in the OUA gold medal game. In the past 13 years, the OUA title in men’s rugby has been won by either Queen’s or Guelph each season (with Guelph having now won 6 OUA titles since 2012, and Queen’s having won 7). Guelph also becomes the first OUA team to win five straight OUA titles since the Queen’s Gaels won 6 in a row from 1986-1991.

Both Queen’s and Guelph will now head to Montreal for the 2025 Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championships (Nov. 12-16).