10 reasons to cheer for our men’s rugby Gee-Gees

Unfortunately, the Gee-Gees lost in the 2024 RSEQ championship, falling to ETS 19-14 in the conference final. Last season, the Gee-Gees had taken down the ETS Piranhas 18-17. Coming down to the wire against the ETS Piranhas, Glenn Roy made a penalty kick from 34 yards in the 80th minute to give Ottawa an 18–17 win and claim its first-ever RSEQ championship.

Finishing the regular season 5-1, the team has quickly established itself as a force to be reckoned with. Ranked sixth in the country, the Gee-Gees have proven they’re one of the best nationwide. Your vocal support in the stands and the home field advantage could help them rise in the rankings!

Evan and Glenn Roy are a powerhouse brother duo. Evan just broke the Gee-Gees men’s rugby program record for career tries. He’s a three-time RSEQ first team all-star and a pillar of the Gee-Gees front row. With three tries in three games this season, Evan continues to be a player to watch.

Last season, Glenn became the leading point scorer in program history, passing 115 career points. The two-time RSEQ first team all-star holds the Gee-Gees record for most points in a single season, after amassing 70 in 2023. He’s affectionately known as Mr. Clutch.

The team didn’t become an RSEQ titan out of nowhere. The players come from humble beginnings, playing in the Scholars League, a lower-level Ontario league.
 

The Gee-Gees joined the RSEQ in 2018 and, in their second season, appeared in their first playoff game. In 2022, the team hosted a playoff game at home for the first time and earned its first post-season win. Though Ottawa fell to McGill in the 2022 RSEQ final, the team made their way back to the championship match up and claimed its first RSEQ title in 2023.

Named head coach in January, James Flemming is embedded in the program’s history. He used to play for the Gee-Gees. In 2018, Flemming was named the team’s most valuable player. He’s also a 2021 RSEQ first team all-star and a two-time RSEQ second team all-star. He’s been a part of the program’s greatest milestones and will look to lead the team to its first national championship.

Jamie Armstrong is as talented as they come, and we’re lucky to have him back for his fifth and final season.  Selected for Rugby Canada’s Pacific Pride Academy, a national high-performance program that prepares emerging players for professional rugby at the highest level, he decided to return to his beloved Gee-Gees. As a recipient of the Gee-Gees Career Achievement Award in 2023, the 2021 RSEQ player of the year, 2024 RSEQ player of the year, three-time RSEQ first team all-star and previous holder of the program’s career points record, Armstrong is a leader and a highlight reel all in one.

The Gee-Gees have produced conference all-stars every season since they joined the RSEQ. Last season, the Gee-Gees had five players named to all-star teams. In 2021, the year Jamie Armstrong was named RSEQ player of the year and Yenam Zouzoua was named rookie of the year, 10 players were named all-stars. Both are still on the Gee-Gees roster. This year, Ali Awada, Connor Billo, Evan Roy, Glenn Roy, and Jamie Armstrong were named First Team All-Stars. Ben Davis was named the RSEQ rookie of the year, and Jamie Armstrong earned the 2024 RSEQ player of the year award.

Plenty of Gee-Gees alumni have reached the professional level or represented Canada. Let’s list a few. Elias Hancock (Canada 7’s), Ryan Surgenor (Toronto Arrows), Theo Espagnol (Pacific Pride), Sam Mace (Toronto Arrows), Connor Williams (Seattle Seawolves), Logan Harris (Pacific Pride), Jamie Armstrong (Pacific Pride), James Flemming (Canada 7’s) … Should we keep going?

Ottawa is hosting the 2024 Canadian University Men’s Rugby National Championship Tournament from November 14 to 17. As host, the Gee-Gees have already punched their ticket to the event and will look to cash in on the opportunity to earn a national championship on home turf. You could be there to witness history!

If you haven’t been to a rugby game at Matt Anthony Field, you’re really missing out. Rain or shine, the fans have shown up for the Gee-Gees. Banging drums and cheering loud, they make for an atmosphere that’s unmatched.

Scoring: A try worth, five points, is earned when an attacking team touches the ball down in the opponent’s in-goal area or on the line. A conversion kick is worth another two points if it goes through the uprights. A penalty kick through the uprights earns three points. Players can also earn three points by dropping the ball on the ground and kicking it through the uprights.

Lineout: Teams line up on either side facing each other as one team throws the ball straight down the middle of the space between them. This is done to restart play when a ball goes out of bounds. You’ll see each team launching players as they jump to grab the ball.
 

Scrum: Also used to restart play after some minor fouls, eight players from each team bind together over the ball on the ground and push against each other to gain possession.
 

The tackle: Unlike in football, when a player is tackled, they release the ball, allowing players on their feet to use it and continue open play.
 

Offsides: Attacking players can’t be involved if they’re in front of a teammate who last played the ball. The ball is passed sideways to players who are slightly behind the player in possession of it. Players also can’t be involved if they’re behind the ball when the opposition has it.
 

Rugby positions: Each team has 15 positions, divided between the forwards, known as “the pack,” and defenders, known as “the backs” or “back line.” Each player’s shirt number indicates their specific responsibility.
 

To fully enjoy the play, find out more by reading the Rugby for Dummies Cheat Sheet.