Guelph rugby team suspended

The University of Guelph’s men’s rugby team is suspended for two games over an off-campus party.

Athletics director Tom Kendall told The Globe and Mail that a Sept. 17 party violated the school’s athletics code because of misuse of alcohol and an initiation. "It’s more the alcohol," Kendall said. "Nobody was hurt and the police weren’t involved. It wasn’t severe in that sense, it wasn’t a hazing incident," he added, although he said it’s "not 100 per cent clear" what type of initiation occurred.

St. Thomas University in Fredericton, N.B. recently unveiled its draft student behaviour code, which imposes up to $500 fines and possible expulsion for incidents of hazing at off-campus gatherings where more than two STU students are present. That policy was developed after a STU student died from injuries at a party where excessive drinking and hazing reportedly occurred.

Guelph’s Gryphons rugby team will forfeit two upcoming games, against Toronto and McMaster.