It was heartbreak for the Humber Hawks rugby teams, as both teams fell short in their respective gold medal matches in the OCAA rugby championships.
The men’s rugby team were looking to three-peat as provincial champions, while the rugby 7s squad vied for their first provincial title since 2021.
Men’s rugby went on the road to Cambridge for a date with the Conestoga Condors in the gold medal match.
Humber got out to a strong 14-0 lead, thanks to tries from third-years Harry Lutumba-Mpongo and Nick Rakobowchuk, followed by penalty kicks from second-year Brody Feltrin.
Condors lock Blake Forester punched in the first try of the game for his side before the end of the half, with the Hawks holding strong at 14-7.
Conestoga pulled to within two to begin the second-half push, off of a try from fourth-year Aidan Vachon. Lutumba-Mpongo quickly answered back with his second try of the game, putting the Hawks up 21-12.
The Condors refused to break, as they pulled off an incredible rally, first with another Forester try to cut the lead down to four. Winger Connor Dol punched in Conestoga’s fourth try of the game, with the Hawks looking to rally after blowing their nine-point lead.
Despite the push, Humber couldn’t convert, as the Condors pulled off the comeback to win their first OCAA gold medal in program history. For the Hawks, they walk away with silver, their fourth-straight medal finish.
For rugby 7s, revenge was on their minds, as they faced off against the reigning champion Durham Lords, who looked to make it five-straight gold medals, a feat that no other Durham varsity program had done before.
In 2025, the Hawks were shut out by the Lords in the gold medal match 34-0, and in 2026, the Hawks were blanked once more.
Durham jumped out to a 12-0 lead at the half, with tries from fifth-year back Shay Morris and third-year Amber Edgerton.
The Hawks continued to struggle in the second half, with another successful try for Morris, sealing the deal for the Lords.
For Durham, their fifth-straight gold medal ties Humber for most total medals since the introduction of rugby 7s in OCAA with seven. For the Hawks, it’s their third-straight medal finish.
