Reflections on Men’s University Championship 2025

Guelph won the men’s university title this year, the first for an Ontario university. We thought we’d take a look at the team and the formula for success and give a shout out to the coach, Cory Hector, who was selected the Coach of the Tournament by tournament organizers.

The team had some stars, that’s an important part of the formula, as rugby pundit Bryan Ray noted, “The Gryphons featured a stacked backline with three former Arrows – Kobe Faust, Liam Bowman, and Brenden Black – and Utah Warriors draft pick Jacob Ince.” They also had Kal Sager who was a standout on the Canada 7s team 2022-2025, and played at Westshore in the BC Premier. We wondered where he had gone after the LA 7s and now we know, to the Guelph Gryphons.

What’s the formula for success in terms of players/coach, we asked Ai. It came up with a 60/40 split when pushed to give a percentage, with a lot of qualifiers, it’s conclusion, “Quality players are the necessary raw material, but a Quality coach is the catalyst required to turn that raw material into sustained success.” It reminded me of UBC’s dominance under coach Curry Hitchborn, winning 4 university titles. He had quality players but part of the recruiting process and talent identification is in the coach’s domain as well.

So congrats to Guelph and Cory Hector, we let Ai loose on doing a report on his rugby career which is posted below.

We checked through our database as well and he first shows up in 2012, when he took a Canadian university team to the FISU (International University Sports Federation) tournament in France. He was co-coach with Darrell Devine and the team manager was TSN rugby analyst, Brian Spanton. He shows up numerous times as Canada U18 coach and a coach for the Ontario Blues then the Toronto Arrows. Winning the university title, the first for an Ontario university, along with being recognized as coach of the tournament should raise his profile nationally and professionally.

Ai Report

Cory Hector is the head coach of the University of Guelph men’s rugby team (the Gryphons), who just led them to their first-ever national gold medal at the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship on November 17, 2025, in Montreal. They clinched the Spence McTavish Cup with an 18-13 victory over the defending champions, the ÉTS Piranhas. Hector was also named Coach of the Tournament.

Cory Hector: Coaching Career Overview

Cory Hector is a prominent Canadian rugby coach known for his extensive experience across university, provincial, national, and professional levels. A native of Cambridge, Ontario, Hector transitioned from a playing career at the University of Guelph to coaching, where he has built a reputation for developing talent and achieving competitive success. His career emphasizes player development, high-performance coaching, and bridging amateur and professional pathways in Canadian rugby.

Early Playing and Coaching Roots (2004–2015)

• University of Guelph (Gryphons): Hector played varsity men’s rugby for the Gryphons from 2004 to 2008, captaining the team in his senior year (fall 2008). This experience laid the foundation for his coaching philosophy, rooted in the program’s competitive culture.
• Assistant Coach, University of Guelph (2009–2015): He began coaching at his alma mater shortly after graduating, serving as an assistant for seven seasons. During this period, he focused on forwards coaching and player skill development, contributing to the team’s growth in the Ontario University Athletics (OUA) conference.

Head Coach, University of Guelph (2016–Present)

• Appointed head coach in May 2016 at age 33, marking his 10th season leading the program in 2025–26.
• Key Achievements:
  • Led the Gryphons to three OUA conference titles (2016, 2021, 2022).
  • Named OUA Coach of the Year in 2016 (his inaugural season) and again in 2024.
  • In November 2025, guided the team to its first-ever Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship (CUMRC) gold medal, defeating the defending champions ÉTS Piranhas 18–13 in the final to claim the Spence McTavish Cup. Hector was also honored as National Coach of the Year and Coach of the Tournament.
  • Produced four 2024 All-Canadians and seven OUA All-Stars in 2024, highlighting his talent pipeline.
• Hector has balanced this role with national and professional commitments, often integrating Gryphons players into higher-level programs.

National and Age-Grade Roles with Rugby Canada (2010s–Present)

• Rugby Ontario Roles (Various, 2010s): Served in multiple capacities, including development and elite coaching.
• National Team Contributions:
  • Assistant Coach (Forwards), Canadian National A Team.
  • Forwards Coach, National U20 Men’s Team (including tours like the 2023 Uruguay tour and the 2025 Oceania Rugby U20s Challenge in Fiji, where he coached Gryphons alumni Quinn Foley, Alistair Yeomans, Danny Lucic, and Evan Davies).
  • Head Coach, National U18 Men’s Team (e.g., led the 2022 Corendon Rugby Summer Tour in the Netherlands with a 27-man squad).
  • National Scrum Development Coach: Oversaw technical training for elite scrummaging across age groups.
• These roles have emphasized talent identification and preparation for senior international rugby, with Hector credited for advancing players to professional levels.

Professional Rugby Involvement (2019–Present)

• Toronto Arrows (Major League Rugby – MLR):
  • Backs Coach and part of the inaugural 2019 senior team staff.
  • Director and Head Coach, Arrows Senior Academy (2020–2023): Built a development pathway for young talent, focusing on transitioning university players to pro rugby. In 2023, he discussed the academy’s growth on podcasts, highlighting its role in Canadian rugby’s ecosystem.
  • Transitioned to full-time Senior Team Coach in October 2023 ahead of the 2024 MLR season, marking a return to pro-level duties while maintaining his Guelph role.
• American Raptors : Joined as Attack Coach under head coach David Butcher, leveraging his OUA and national experience to shape the team’s offensive strategy.

Awards and Impact

• OUA Coach of the Year: 2016, 2024.
• U Sports (National) Coach of the Year: 2024 .
• Hector’s career has produced numerous professionals, including MLR players from the Toronto Arrows and national team contributors. His dual roles in university and pro rugby have strengthened Canada’s player development pipeline.