On a cold and rainy Friday night in Sackville, the Mt. A Men’s Rugby team welcomed their devoted fans to Alumni Field to see their final showdown at 7 p.m. Despite the challenging weather, a dedicated crowd of fans gathered to cheer on the Mounties as they sought to defend their title.
After a successful season, the Mt. A’s Men’s Rugby team won the championship game on November 22. They swept Dalhousie Men’s Rugby, preserving their title as 2024 Maritime Division II Champions. The team ended their fantastic season with a score of 25–3 in favour of the Mounties. Notably, the players who made the tries were Hudson Barnaby, Luc Richard, Cohen Tremblay, and Ryan Cormier. All players excelled on the field, demonstrating skills they honed through their dedication and practice. The Men’s Rugby team put on a strong performance for the spectators who braved a cold and rainy evening. The opposing team put up a strong fight, but through teamwork and tenacity, the Mounties claimed the title.
Calum MacDonald, a third-year Mt. A student and the team’s social chair, reflected on his season and the big win, stating in an interview: “We couldn’t have had worse weather for the game, it rained the whole time. Despite how cold and miserable it was, we have never had a larger turnout for a game. The boys were able to send Dal packing with a huge win on our home field. It was a long road to get here but it’s a dream come true to be back-to-back champs with my boys.”

Ryan Cormier, a second-year player, shared a similar testament: “As my second year started, I knew we could do some damage to this league. It all depended on how bad we wanted to win. Even after our first losses, I knew that if we would just keep grinding and practicing we would succeed. If it was rain, snow, or cold we were out on the field and no one gave up and no one would stop us. The bond we gained from laughter, sweat, tears, and blood made us stronger and, in the end, made us champions. I didn’t play because I wanted to be great, I played [be]cause I knew that we were.”
Despite the fact that the rugby team is a club sport, – composed and welcoming of players of varying skills – they play in a Maritime league against many varsity teams. The teams that compose their league are Dalhousie, University of New Brunswick (UNB), Saint Thomas, and Slammin’ Salmon Rugby Club. Their season lasts from September to the end of November, and despite their tough opponents they consistently show they can compete at a high level.
The Mt. A Women’s Rugby team also had a noteworthy season, but ultimately lost in their final game to UNB’s Women’s Rugby team in Fredericton on Sunday, November 3. The Mounties finished their season with a 66–7 loss. Mt. A’s very own, Jenay Spence, put seven points on the scoreboard for the Mounties. Both the Men’s and the Women’s rugby teams demonstrated tenacity, sportsmanship, and skill throughout their season.
If readers of The Argosy are interested in supporting Mt. Men’s Rugby, they can follow them on Instagram at @mtamensrugby for updates on the team’s activities both on and off the field.