Van Der Ploeg takes home OUA's top player nod for the Tricolour

Burlington, Ont. – Leaders on the pitch and off, standouts from four different teams see their efforts from this past season recognized at the conference level. From phenomenal first-year efforts to sensational senior seasons, the 2022 Ontario University Athletics (OUA) men's rugby season had plenty to celebrate, headlined by player of the year Rienk Van Der Ploeg from the Queen's Gaels.

Player of the Year – Rienk Van Der Ploeg, Queen's Gaels



The Gaels rolled their way through campaign with another undefeated mark, and the conference's top regular season team was led by the conference's top player for 2022, Rienk Van Der Ploeg.

The No. 8 from Walton, Ont. was a force for the Gaels each time he stepped on the pitch. He finished with a trio of tries on the season, with his most notable offensive effort coming in Queen's third game of the year wherein he punched in two tries for his squad. He also helped the Kingston squad get their undefeated campaign off on the right foot with a try in their season-opening win over the RMC Paladins. Beyond the points, first team all-star Van Der Rienk also showcased his ability to handle the ball, create opportunities for his teammates, and be a solid defender individually and as part of the overall Gaels back row.

The all-around performance from the fourth-year commerce major, who becomes the ninth student-athlete in program history named player of the year, was instrumental to Queen's collecting a combined 308 points for and 69 points against on the year and earning the top spot heading into the postseason push.

Rookie of the Year – Owen Williams, Guelph Gryphons



Joining the reigning champions without skipping a beat, Guelph's Owen Williams takes home the 2022 OUA rookie of the year nod.

The first-year student from Pickering, Ont. played a key role in the Gryphons lineup throughout the 2022 season as a starting prop, helping his team post a 5-1 record during the regular season and a pair of playoff wins in the proceeding weeks. In his foray onto the varsity scene, the biological and medial physics student quickly showcased his ability at the OUA level, but was able to rely on his international experience as well. Williams has previously represented Canada at the U18 level, where he suited up alongside a trio of current Gryphon teammates.

This is the third time a member of the Gryphons has claimed top rookie honours and the second consecutive following Connor McKinney's recognition in 2021.

Coach of the Year – Ian McLeod, Western Mustangs



The Mustangs galloped to the second spot in the conference during the regular season and 2022 coach of the year, Ian McLeod, played an instrumental role therein.

The London, Ont. local made his mark from the sidelines throughout Western's successful campaign on the pitch. He led his team to a 5-1 record in just his second year with the program, following a tough 2021 campaign in which the Mustangs picked up only one win. Having flipped the script this time around, however, the team came away with just the one loss this year, which came at the hands of the undefeated Gaels. Even with that loss, the group managed an impressive 214 points for compared to just 79 against, ranking second in the conference in the latter. McLeod also saw two of his Mustangs earn all-star recognition this season.

While he has not spent a lot of time with the purple and white, having taken over as head in coach in fall 2021, McLeod is no stranger to the OUA and conference recognition, as he previously earned the top coaching accolade in 2017 while with the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks.

Community Service Award – Adam McNee & Dylan Di Girolamo, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks



A dynamic duo on the field and off, Wilfrid Laurier's Adam McNee and Dylan Di Girolamo are the co-recipients of the 2022 OUA community service award.

The standout student-athletes each produced all-star campaigns on the pitch, with Di Girolamo (Kettleby, Ont.) pacing the Golden Hawks in tries (8) and McNee (Coburg, Ont.) finishing as the team's top scorer (56 points; T3rd in OUA). But as proficient as they are on the pitch, they are just as determined to make a difference beyond it as leaders on campus and in the community.

The pair combined to create inventive ways to help out people in the community and had the drive to make it happen. Most notably, McNee and Di Girolamo organized a food and clothing drive for Optimism Place, a shelter for women and children, and delivered two pick-up trucks full of clothing and food for their efforts.

The complete list of 2022 OUA men's rugby award winners and all-stars is as follows:

Player of the Year – Rienk Van Der Ploeg, Queen's Gaels
Rookie of the Year – Owen Williams, Guelph Gryphons
Coach of the Year – Ian McLeod, Western Mustangs
Community Service Award – Adam McNee & Dylan Di Girolamo, Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks

First Team All-Stars
Fly Half – Cole Brown, McMaster
Scrum Half – Kevin Oh, Waterloo
Prop – Aiadan Vachon, Guelph
Prop – Aiden Emmens, Queen's
Centre – Eric Godden, Queen's
Centre – Colin Smibert, Guelph
Back Three – Kobe Faust, Guelph
Back Three – Ethan VosKamp, Wilfrid Laurier
Back Three – Josh Eustace, Waterloo
Back Row – Daniel Svoboda, Queen's
Back Row – Dylan Di Girolamo, Wilfrid Laurier
Back Row – Cam Hurst, Guelph
Back Row – Rienk Van Der Ploeg, Queen's
Hooker – David Scollon, Guelph
Second Row – Liam Casey, Queen's
Second Row – Zach Zorbas, Brock

Second Team All-Stars
Fly Half – Adam McNee, Wilfrid Laurier
Scrum Half – Adam Doyle, Queen's
Prop – Sam Caylor, Western
Prop – Ben Mowbray, McMaster
Centre – Wyatt Brown, Wilfrid Laurier
Centre – Liam Boeyenga, Brock
Back Three – Reon White, Brock
Back Three – Alex Mulholland, Wilfrid Laurier
Back Three – Thomas Richards, Waterloo
Back Row – Garin Schroeder, Western
Back Row – Grayson Tucker, Trent
Back Row – Nathan Campbell, Brock
Hooker – Michael Chapman, Queen's
Second Row – Carter Smith, Wilfrid Laurier
Second Row – Bryan Kushner, Waterloo