OTTAWA (CIS) – The University of Guelph and Queen's University will host the CIS women's rugby championship tournament in 2014 and 2015, respectively.
 
The CIS selection committee met last week to evaluate bids for upcoming national championships in four sports. The hosts for women's basketball, men's basketball and men's hockey in 2015 and 2016 will be announced shortly.
 
"This is a very exciting opportunity for the university and for our women's rugby program," said Tom Kendall, director of athletics at Guelph. "Women's rugby is one of our strongest varsity programs and they have a large and loyal following. Hosting this championship will enable our team to perform at the highest level in front of a large and boisterous crowd. We are also thrilled to show how well Gryphon Athletics can present and manage a first class national championship."
 
"We are thrilled to host the 2015 CIS women's rugby championship," said Leslie Dal Cin, Queen's director of athletics and recreation. "We look forward to taking the passion and commitment displayed by the incredible women's rugby student-athletes and igniting our volunteers, fans and alumni to deliver a premier CIS event that showcases our campus and our communities' interest for high level sporting events. Hosting national championships is a priority for Queen's and is an important part of our vision. The opportunity for our student-athletes to receive home-crowd support on Nixon Field will be an exceptional and memorable experience."
 
The tournament is scheduled for Oct. 30 to Nov. 2 in 2014, and Nov. 5-8 in 2015.
 
Guelph has hosted the competition once in the past, in 1999. The tourney has never been held in Kingston since women's rugby was added to the CIS program in 1998.
 
Guelph has been among the most competitive teams in the country since day one. The Gryphons claimed the inaugural CIS banner 15 years ago and have since added 10 more national medals, including a second Monilex Trophy in 2011 and their fifth overall appearance in the championship match last season.
 
Queen's has also become a CIS powerhouse in recent years, reaching the national tournament twice in the past three campaigns. In last year's OUA conference final, the Gaels gave the Gryphons all they could handle before dropping a hard-fought 10-6 decision. 
 
Both teams are currently ranked in the top three nationally after finishing the 2013 regular season with unblemished 5-0 records. In the first round of the OUA playoffs this past weekend, the Gryphons defeated Laurier 78-0, while the Gaels downed Trent 72-22.
 
This year's CIS championship is set for Oct. 31 to Nov. 3 at Laval University in Quebec City.
 
HISTORY OF CIS WOMEN'S RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP:
 
Year - Hosts (champions)
2015    Queen's
2014    Guelph
2013    Laval
2012    StFX (StFX)
2011    Trent (Guelph)
2010    Trent (StFX)
2009    UBC (Lethbridge)
2008    Lethbridge (Lethbridge)
2007    Western (Lethbridge)
2006    Western (StFX)
2005    Victoria (Western)
2004    AUS (Western)
2003    Alberta (Alberta)
2002    Toronto (Alberta)
2001    Ottawa (Alberta)
2000    Bishop's (Alberta)
1999    Guelph (Alberta)
1998    McMaster (Guelph)