The Ontario Rugby League (ORL) is set for its largest season to date when the 14th edition of the competition kicks off on March 16.
The latest season of the regional competition will feature two new teams and will run for six weeks to decide whether the Tavistock Trash Pandas can successfully defend their premiership or if one of the other five competitors will be holding the trophy at Stratford in early May.
The two new clubs joining the competition are the Royal City Goons and the Durham Dawgz and see the competition enjoy three consecutive seasons of growth after being heavily impacted by COVID-19 pandemic.
The Royal City Goons will represent Guelph, a city in southwestern Ontario, while the Durham Dawgz hail from Grey County, west of Toronto.
This expansion continues the ORL’s recent trend of consistent growth, following the successful inclusion of the Tavistock Trash Pandas (2024 premiers) and the Brampton Beavers the year before. This growth is particularly notable after the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced a hiatus in the 2020 and 2021 seasons and seeing only the Brampton Broncos and Toronto City Saints return.
The ORL’s roots trace back to 2010, with founding members the Toronto City Saints and the St. Catharines Bobcats. The league quickly expanded to four teams, with St. Catharines rebranding as Niagara and the addition of the York Region Reds and Scarborough Centurions. The competition maintained a four-team structure until 2016, experiencing a period of decline in 2017 before it started a small resurgence before the COVID affected seasons.
Over the period of 2011 – 2016 the make up of the league changed multiple times. The Bobcats moved to Hamilton and became the Hammers, Ottawa entered a team for one year, Brantford joined in 2014 and the Scarborough Centurions became the Toronto Centurions. The Burlington Tigers and Oakville Crusaders also took part in various seasons.
Looking ahead at the 2025, the Tavistock Trash Pandas are considered strong favorites, having completed an undefeated campaign in 2023. The Brantford Broncos, last year’s runners-up, aim to secure their fourth title, while the Toronto City Saints will be looking to build on their success after claiming the Plate Trophy at the Vegas Nines.
The 2025 season will feature four triple headers, spread between Durham, Guelph, Brantford and Brampton.
Semi-Finals will start on April 27, with the Grand Finals to be held on May 4.
FIXTURES
Round 1 : March 16
Toronto City Saints v Brampton Beaver
Durham Dawgz v Tavistock Trash Pandas
Royal City Goons v Brantford Broncos
Location: Durham
Round 2 : March 30
Royal City Goons v Toronto City Saints
Tavistock Trash Pandas v Brampton Beavers
Brantford Broncos v Durham Dawgz
Location: Guelph
Round 3 : April 6
Brantford Broncos v Brampton Beavers
Royal City Goons v Durham Dawgz
Toronto City Saints v Tavistock Trash Pandas
Location: Brantford
Round 4 : April 13
Brampton Beavers v Royal City Goons
Tavistock Trash Pandas v Brantford Broncos
Toronto City Saints v Durham Dawgz
Location: Brampton
Semi Finals : April 27
Location: TBC
Finals : May 4
Location: Stratford
PREVIOUS CHAMPIONS:
2024: Tavistock Trash Pandas
2023: Brantford Broncos
2022: Brantford Broncos
2019: Toronto City Saints
2018: Brantford Broncos
2017: Toronto RLC
2016: Brantford-Burlington
2015: Toronto Centurions
2014: Toronto Centurions
2013: Toronto City Saints
2012: No Premiers
2011: Niagara Bobcats
2010: Toronto City Saints
