Bio

he Humber men's rugby team captured back-to-back OCAA titles after defeating the top-ranked Durham Lords in blizzard-like conditions at Thompson Rugby Park, 26-14. A strong second-half from the Hawks saw win the program's ninth provincial gold medal in team history.

Match Recap

From the opening kick-off, the Hawks struggled to match the high tempo set by the Lords, who burst out of the gate with serious pace and physicality. Durham immediately pressed deep into Humber territory, hammering through phases until they finally grounded the opening try. With the conversion slotted, the Lords took an early seven-point advantage just seven minutes in.

But Humber refused to be rattled. The Hawks regrouped, tightened their structure, and marched downfield with a composed, multi-phase attack of their own. Their persistence paid off with a try under pressure, and the successful conversion by Michael Min brought the match level. In the final ten minutes of the half, both sides traded heavy collisions and tactical kicks, but neither defence cracked again, sending the teams into the break tied at seven apiece.

Shortly after the restart, a mistake in Humber's backfield gifted Durham a penalty try, restoring the Lords' seven-point cushion.

The Hawks, however, were far from done. In the 48th minute, Humber stormed into the attacking zone as a cohesive pack, punching through Durham's defensive line to score their second try. Michael Min calmly stepped up and drilled his second conversion of the match, knotting things up at 14–14.

Momentum swung hard in Humber's favour. Utilizing their size and strength in contact, the Hawks dominated in terms of territory and possession. By the 68th minute, they set up a crucial scrum five metres out, grinding through three bruising phases before crashing over for their third try. With the score now 21–14, the Hawks looked firmly in control.

Barely four minutes later, Humber struck again. Rookie standout Jayce Kroes powered through multiple tacklers, muscling over the line for the Hawks' fourth try. The Milton, Ont. product—who finished the season with four tries—was later recognized as the 2025 OCAA Rookie of the Year.

With the clock ticking down and the weather worsening, both sides fought tooth and nail for late points, trading long carries and gritty defensive stands.

But when the final whistle blew, it was the Hawks who emerged victorious, securing a 26–14 win and claiming OCAA gold—avenging the only team to blemish their undefeated regular-season record.

Harry Lutumba-Mpongo earned Championship MVP honours, while James Robb-Kennedy and Cooper Markou were named to the all-tournament team.

Humber Highlights

• Humber improved to 3-0 all-time against Durham in the postseason.
• The Hawks have now won 13 provincial medals - nine gold, three silver, and one bronze.
• This is head coach Fabian Rayne's sixth gold medal and seventh provincial medal with the team.
• In his eleventh season with the Hawks, Rayne was named Coach of the Year for the first time.
• James Robb-Kennedy was named OCAA Defensive Player of the Year.