Updated March 14, 2018
Saint Mary’s and U Sports reach joint settlement on eligibility
March 14, 2018
Saint Mary’s University and U Sports, the national sport governing body of university sport in Canada, are pleased to announce a joint settlement regarding football player eligibility for the fall 2017 season.
“Reaching a mutual settlement is an important step forward for our football players, coaches and supporters,” said Margaret Murphy, Associate Vice-President, External Affairs. “Saint Mary’s is pleased that U Sports has agreed to honour our agreement of October 27, 2017, in accordance with the ruling of the Ontario Superior Court.”
As part of this settlement, U Sports acknowledges that there was previously an agreement made with Saint Mary’s in October 2017 that resolved the player eligibility question and where both organizations agreed to work together to address ambiguity in U Sports eligibility rules moving forward.
Saint Mary’s goal has always been to ensure that there is equity and fair play for everyone in the AUS and Canadian varsity athletics. In order to achieve this, we believe there must be collaboration between the AUS, its members and the national organization. We will continue to seek every opportunity to collaborate with the AUS and U Sports to ensure rule clarity and its equitable application, to the benefit of everyone involved.
Saint Mary's University is pleased with the prompt action of the Supreme Court
November 12, 2017
Saint Mary's University is pleased with the prompt action of the Supreme Court of Nova Scotia and the decision of Associate Chief Justice Deborah Smith. The decision reinstates the Loney Bowl, the final game in the AUS Conference that determines the conference champion.
Saint Mary's reaffirms our position that the player eligibility question was put to rest and there isn’t and hasn’t been any impediment to Saint Mary’s position to play in the Loney Bowl. The Nova Scotia Supreme Court has seen fit to recognize the importance of the university football season to players, coaches, support staff, Faculty and alumni in the Atlantic Region and across Canada. We are pleased that the Court has agreed with our position that the game should proceed. We are ready to play. We look forward to the game on Tuesday.