BC Rugby Weekend of September 5th 2026
Two Important University Matches Kick Off the Season in BC: Men UBC v TWU and Women UVic v UBC
The BC Premier kicks off next weekend, and a chance to see what the rosters will look like for the new season but this weekend gives us a taste of things to come with two important university matches. For the men it’s a first look at UBC and TWU head to head, their game is on today at 6pm at the Ken Woods Field at UBC . TWU are hosting the university championships this year so have an automatic berth but UBC will have to battle UVic for the remaining one BC spot left. On the women’s side it’s the top two contenders for the women’s university title this year and they go head to head on Saturday at 1pm at Wallace Field.
Here are the UBC and TWU rosters, we’ll publish the women’s rosters when they’re available.
BC Premier Schedule 2026-27
Men’s Premier 2026-27 Schedule Posted – 21 Rounds, 11 Teams, 99 Matches
The BCRU have posted the 2026/27 schedules to PlayHQ, the new registration system. This is the schedule for the men’s Premier, there are 11 teams, 21 Rounds including bye weeks, each team plays 18 games, there are 99 matches in total. The season starts September 12, the winter break occurs between Round 11 on November 28th and Round 12 on January 16th, the regular season ends on April 10th.
During the season check the BCRU site for any last minute changes. We’ll also keep this post on the front page and updated with scores.
Men’s Div 1 Schedule 2026-27
Men’s Div 1 Schedule Posted – 21 Rounds, 19 Teams, 162 Matches
The men’s Division 1 has 19 teams entered, the second team from the 11 Premier sides plus 8 other teams, Nanaimo, Comox, Cowichan, Port Alberni on the Island and Squamish, Langley, Kelowna, Abbotsford from the Mainland.
The men’s Premier schedule is here. During the season check the BCRU site for any last minute changes. We’ll also keep this post on the front page and updated with scores.
BC Women’s Premier Schedule 2026-27
Women’s Premier 2026-27 Schedule Posted – 18 Rounds, 6 Core Teams Plus Seattle, 51 Matches
The women’s Premier starts September 26th. There are six core teams plus Seattle who play an exhibition schedule, they visit each of the core teams once during the season. The six core teams play a triple round robin with 3 games against each opponent. That works out to 45 matches plus the six exhibition matches for a 51 match schedule over 18 rounds.
New CUMRC Format Means UVic or UBC Will Be Omitted from Canadian University Men's Rugby Championship for First Time - two most successful men's university programs in Canada but only one place at the tournament
Meehan Names 32 Player Squad for September Tests in Japan - 6 starters missing from Zimbabwe match, new skills coach
2026 FISU World University Championship Rugby Sevens
Canada Undefeated After Day One – Face Australia in Final Pool Match
Canada are undefeated after wins over Botswana 70-0 and Ireland 35-7, they’ll face Australia to complete pool play on Day 2. Australia were upset by Ireland 22-19 on Day 1 leaving Canada as the only 2-0 team in Pool B. France and Japan are undefeated in Pool A. The quarter-finals take place on Day 2 following the last pool match.
Two Canadian players were named in the Players to Watch on the official FISU website.
Ava Ference – Canada
Canada’s Ava Ference has been central to her side’s unbeaten start, accumulating 22 points through 11 successful conversions. Her accuracy from the tee has complemented Canada’s attacking strength and helped the Canadians establish themselves as early favourites in the women’s competition.
Ava Van Santen – Canada
Ava Van Santen scored four tries and collected 20 points as Canada recorded two comprehensive victories on the opening day. Her finishing ability has already made her a key part of Canada’s attacking game, and one of the players opposition defences will need to contain.
Canada v Japan – September 5th 2026
Meehan Names Match 23 for Japan Clash on Saturday (Friday Evening in BC)
UPDATE: Cooper Coats Out, Spencer Jones starts at #10, Jacob Ince in reserves at #22
Canada will kick off their three September matches on Saturday in Japan, Friday evening if you’re on the west coast. It’s a Canada team missing some key players like Tyler Ardron, Evan Olmstead, Andrew Quattrin, Cali Martinez, Cole Keith, Piers Von Dadelszen, Peter Nelson. It’s going to be a tough battle against a Japan team just coming off two matches against Australia, one of them a blowout loss but one a close 3 point loss. That close loss was at home.
As we predicted in a previous article, some of the selections were a given, Miller and Steeves at props, Kelly in the second row, Rumball and Flesch in the loose forwards, Coats at flyhalf, Lesage in the centres, Tremblay on the wing and McMullin at fullback. Some of the selections surprised us Dewitt instead of Kotze at starting hooker, Doyle instead of Botchar in the second row, Parry instead of Fryer at openside flanker, Kilgour instead of Higgins at scrum half, James instead of Olson on the wing, and Olson instead of Jones in the centres. Two players are set to get their first cap Bryce Worden at prop and Jamie Armstrong in the backs.
Kamloops 7s 2026
Kamloops 7s Youth Tournament September 19th and 20th – App Shows 123 Teams Registered
Billed as the “largest youth Rugby 7s tournament in Canada that attracts teams from across British Columbia and beyond” the Kamloops 7s takes place September 19th and 20th at McArthur Island Park, 1655 Island Pkwy, Kamloops. Last year there were 128 teams in 10 divisions competing over 10 fields, in 2024 there were 122 teams. It will be interesting to see the team count this year. The Kamloops 7s website hasn’t published the numbers yet but the Kamloops 7s app does have the teams entered, we’re not sure if it’s complete but we’ll go through the divisions. The total, based on the App info on September 2nd, is 123 total teams, 55 boys, 68 girls. Interesting stat compared to last year, the boys are down 8 teams, the girls up 3 teams.
Men’s University Championship 2026
New CUMRC Format Means UVic or UBC Will Be Omitted from University Championship for First Time
The McTavish Cup awarded to the top men’s University team was started in 2017. It has been won by UBC five times in its eight year history (no tournament due to COVID in 2020), UVic have won it once. UBC have placed top three in all eight years, UVic have finished top three in five of the eight years, 4th one year, 5th twice. Despite being the two most successful teams in the competition, one of them won’t be going to the championship this year. Organizers have decided on the following regional allocations this year.
World Rugby Nations Cup – November Schedule
World Rugby Announces November Schedule for Nations Cup: Canada Play Georgia, Hong Kong in France, Romania
The men’s XVs team are in Japan for three matches in September, return home to catch their breath, maybe get in a BC Premier match or two for some of the players, then off to Europe for matches November 7th, 14th and 20th. They play Georgia in Tbilisi on November 7th, then Hong Kong in Chambery, France on November 14th, and finally Romania on November 20th in Bucharest.
Officiating Updates – September 2026
Level 1 Officiating Courses Offered in September in Courtenay, Abbotsford, Victoria, Vancouver
The BCRU are putting on Level 1 Officiating courses in Courtenay, Abbotsford, Victoria, Vancouver, Kelowna, Coquitlam, Vernon, Cranbrook, Terrace this season from September to May. There are four in September in Courtenay, Abbotsford, Victoria, Vancouver and one in October in Kelowna. It’s important to get new officials continually coming through the system to support the approximately 700 senior league games this season, not to mention the junior club games and the high school games in the spring. The information from the BCRU and registration link is below.
SPONSORS
