Dalhousie rugby clinches back-to-back nationals

The Dalhousie Tigers men’s rugby team are heading to nationals for the second consecutive season. 

On Oct. 10, the Tigers defeated the Memorial University Sea-Hawks in an overtime kickoff at the Atlantic University Rugby Championship in Fredericton, securing their spot to compete for the McTavish Cup. The best-of-eight tournament will take place in Langley, B.C., from Nov. 17 to 21.

The Tigers are undefeated this season, outscoring their opponents 330-13 during their hot start. The Division 1 squad did not allow a try in September.

In 2025, the Tigers reached the quarterfinals of the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship after going undefeated in the regular season. Adam Anshan, the Tigers’ head coach, says last year’s trip to nationals has helped the team prepare their players for another run.

“For a lot of our players last year, it was their first exposure to that level of performance and competition,” says Anshan. “We’re in a better place this year.”

Anshan played for the Tigers from 2011 to 2014 before joining the coaching staff,  serving as the head coach from 2015 to 2016. Anshan returned to the Tigers in 2021, returning to the head coach position in 2024.

Declan Hearn is the rugby team’s captain and has played four seasons with the Tigers. He says that the program is supported by a great coaching system.

“We have a pretty wicked program…our coaching staff is among the best in the country,” says Hearn.

Anshan has seen a major difference with the Tigers’ success over the years as a coach.

“Our job as a coach is to guide that individual development, but also to put all those pieces together to play some exciting rugby,” says Anshan.

Maria Samson, the chair of Canadian University Men’s Rugby, has seen the Tigers’ progression over the last two years. 

“Dalhousie was a really gritty team last year, and we expect the same from them in Langley,” she said in an email to the Dalhousie Gazette. Beating Memorial in a kicking tiebreaker after overtime to win a spot at the McTavish Cup tells you everything about this group.”  

Samson said the growth of men’s university rugby across the country is a priority for the championship, with competitive teams helping to showcase across different regions. 

The Tigers have one more game before nationals, as they head on the road against the University of Prince Edward Island’s Panthers and go back-to-back years with a perfect regular season record on Oct. 25.