VICTORIA, B.C. – The Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship (CUMRC) and the University of Victoria are excited to announce that UVic has been selected to host the 2027 McTavish Cup, bringing Canada's national university men's rugby championship back to Victoria on November 16, 18 and 20, 2027.
The five-day national championship will be played across two of UVic's premier rugby venues, Wallace Field and the iconic Centennial Stadium, as the country's top university programs battle for the prestigious McTavish Cup.
"We couldn't be more excited to host the McTavish Cup. Men's rugby is woven into the fabric of our athletic history, and the success of the Vikes program has helped establish UVic as a national leader in the sport," said Director, Varsity Performance Sport, Nick Clarke. "To welcome the country's top teams to Victoria, a city that truly embraces rugby, is something our entire community is looking forward to."
The championship's return to Victoria is particularly fitting given UVic's role in its history. Invitational national tournaments hosted by the Vikes during the 1980s and 1990s helped establish the blueprint for a national university championship, a vision later realized through the efforts of legendary UVic coach Doug Tate and alumnus Mike Holmes, who were instrumental in helping create the modern McTavish Cup.
The 2027 championship will be supported by expanded three-year partnerships with Lougheed Wealth Management as title sponsor, and For The Love of the Game as the presenting sponsor. Both organizations have increased their support of the championship and committed to the 2026, 2027 and 2028 McTavish Cups.
"We're thrilled to bring the McTavish Cup back to Victoria and to partner with UVic for the 2027 championship," said Maria Samson, chair of the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship. "UVic has a remarkable rugby history and has played an important role in the vision for a national university championship. We're excited to build on that legacy and bring Canada's leading university men's rugby programs to Victoria."
The 2027 championship will feature eight of Canada's university men's rugby teams, representing conferences and regions from coast to coast. As tournament host, UVic receives an automatic berth.
Founded in 2016 and first contested in 2017, the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship was created to fill the need for a formal national university men's rugby competition. The championship trophy is named in honour of Spence McTavish, a celebrated UBC player, coach, and one of the most influential figures in Canadian rugby history.
About the Vikes
With 92 national titles to its name, the University of Victoria Vikes athletics program is one of Canada's most successful university sport organizations. The Vikes began interuniversity competition in 1969, while athletic teams at Victoria College date back to the 1930s. UVic competes within U SPORTS, Canada West, the NAIA, BC Premier Rugby, and several national championship competitions across multiple sports.
About the McTavish Cup
The McTavish Cup is Canada's national championship for university men's rugby. Established in 2017 as the Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship, the competition brings together eight leading university programs from across the country for a national championship tournament. In 2026, the championship adopted the McTavish Cup as its official public-facing name, bringing the championship and its historic trophy together under one identity.
