Regina Rams forfeit five games due to ineligible player

Evan Daum, Canada West Communications

EDMONTON – The University of Regina Rams football team has been stripped of three wins during the 2018 Canada West season due to an ineligible player, the conference announced Friday.

The ineligible player participated in all five of Regina’s 2018 Canada West regular season games.

As per Canada West regulations, Regina forfeits all results in which the ineligible player participated, with games originally won by Regina now being recorded as 1-0 results for Regina’s opponents. The player’s individual statistics will now be attributed to the team, while all other individual player statistics from the games will remain intact.

The forfeits result in Regina being stripped of three wins: Sept. 7 (51-13 win at Alberta), Sept. 14 (19-17 win vs. UBC), and Sept. 29 (32-31 win at Manitoba). The scorelines from the Rams’ previous losses against Calgary (49-35 on Aug. 31) and Saskatchewan (33-20 on Sept. 21) remain intact.

University of Regina Athletics became aware of the ineligible player during the conference bye week. An oversight during Regina’s student-athlete intake and eligibility process over the summer led to the player competing this season. Regina has committed to a full review of their student-athlete intake and eligibility processes. The U SPORTS discipline panel will be setting parameters on any review and required structural changes.

“This is a heartbreaking situation for the student-athletes, coaches, members of the Rams organization, and the University of Regina community,” said University of Regina Director of Sport, Community Engagement & Athlete Development Lisa Robertson. “The University will fully cooperate with U SPORTS as they review the situation. Additionally, we are launching an internal review of our student-athlete intake processes in order to minimize the risk of this happening again.”

A self-disclosure of the eligibility issue was submitted by U of R Athletics on October 4 to U SPORTS, which sets national eligibility regulations, after Regina discovered the student-athlete did not meet U SPORTS eligibility requirements.

U SPORTS may apply additional sanctions upon completion of its review process.

Due to Regina’s forfeiture of games, the Canada West standings have changed. The updated CW standings, as well as a list of Regina’s forfeited wins, are listed below.

REGINA FORFEITED WINS
Friday, Sept. 7: originally a 51-13 win for Regina at Alberta
Friday, Sept. 14: originally a 19-17 win for Regina vs. UBC
Saturday, Sept. 29: originally a 32-31 OT win for Regina at Manitoba

UPDATED CANADA WEST STANDINGS
TEAM / W-L / POINTS (change from previous standings)
Calgary / 5-0 / 10 (no change)
Saskatchewan / 3-2 / 6 (no change)
Manitoba / 3-2 / 6 (+1 win, +1 in standings)
Alberta / 2-3 / 4 (+1 win, +1 in standings)
UBC / 2-3 / 4 (+1 win, +1 in standings)
Regina / 0-5 / 0 (-3 wins, -3 in standings)

(Source: CanWest)