CALGARY, AB – August 2026 – The Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship is proud to announce For The Love of the Game as the Presenting Sponsor of the McTavish Cup for 2026, 2027 and 2028.
The new three-year partnership represents a significant expansion of For The Love of the Game’s support for the championship. After previously supporting the McTavish Cup as a Game Sponsor, the organization is stepping into the Presenting Sponsor role as the championship begins a new chapter under the McTavish Cup name.
Founded in 2015 by Canadian rugby legend Dave Lougheed, For The Love of the Game was created from Lougheed’s own experience as a young athlete, when an opportunity to attend an England Rugby Under-18 training camp proved transformational and helped set the course for his international sporting career. His goal was to create similar opportunities for the next generation of athletes.
Lougheed knows first-hand the impact that opportunity can have on an athlete’s life. He earned 34 caps for Canada, representing the country at four Rugby World Cups, and enjoyed a professional career with the English Premiership’s Leicester Tigers, where he played 55 matches and helped the club win two Premiership titles. He was inducted into the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame as part of its 2019 class and was also inducted into the Ontario Rugby Hall of Fame in 2015.
His commitment to the development of Canadian rugby continued after his playing career. Lougheed helped establish the rugby program at the University of Calgary in 2001 and served as its first Head Coach before serving on the Rugby Canada Board from 2008 to 2012. In 2015, he founded For The Love of the Game to provide grants, scholarships and high-impact sporting experiences to young athletes.
The organization’s mission, “Inspiring Excellence through Experience,” is built around leveraging sporting memories and experiences to enrich the lives of young athletes and help them reach their full potential. Its programs include scholarships, athlete grants, and high-impact coaching events and clinics.
“We are incredibly proud to see For The Love of the Game deepen its involvement with the McTavish Cup,” said Maria Samson, Chair of the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship. “Dave has lived the pathway that so many of the athletes at this championship are pursuing. He understands what an opportunity, a coach, a team and a great rugby experience can mean to a young athlete. Having For The Love of the Game move from a Game Sponsor to Presenting Sponsor, with a three-year commitment, is a tremendous investment in the future of these athletes and in university men’s rugby across Canada.”
The partnership will span the 2026, 2027 and 2028 McTavish Cups, providing sustained support for the championship and the student-athletes competing for a national title.
The 2026 McTavish Cup will be hosted by Trinity Western University at Willoughby Community Park Stadium in Langley, British Columbia, on November 17, 19 and 21.
For The Love of the Game’s support of the McTavish Cup builds on its broader commitment to Canadian rugby. The organization has also supported initiatives including the Canadian University Coaching Awards and other opportunities designed to help athletes and coaches access experiences that contribute to their development.
About For The Love of the Game
Founded in 2015 by Canadian rugby international and Rugby Canada Hall of Fame inductee Dave Lougheed, For The Love of the Game is dedicated to Inspiring Excellence through Experience. The organization provides scholarships, grants and high-impact coaching opportunities designed to help young athletes reach their potential. Its annual scholarship provides athletes with a world-class sporting experience through the Canterbury Crusaders International High Performance Unit in New Zealand. For more information, visit https://www.fortheloveofthegame.info/
About the McTavish Cup
The McTavish Cup is Canada’s national championship for university men’s rugby. Established in 2017 as the Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship, the competition brings together eight leading university programs from across the country for a national championship tournament. Beginning in 2026, the championship will compete for the McTavish Cup.
The 2026 McTavish Cup will be hosted by Trinity Western University at Willoughby Community Park Stadium on November 17, 19 and 21, 2026.
Media Contact
Maria Samson
Chair, Canadian University Men’s Rugby Championship
info@cumrc.com