Coaching Updates – October 2026
Kevin Rouet Has Coaching Contract Extended to End of 2030
When you’ve kept the Canada XVs team in the top 3 in the world and placed 2nd at the World Cup, it’s a given you should have your contract extended. Why now though is open to speculation, did he receive a solid offer from abroad? In 2025 Rugby Canada extended his contract to the end of 2027, now they’re locking him in until the end of 2030. The World Cup is in 2029. He’s not only head coach, he’s Director of Women’s Rugby. One statement that Rouet keeps mentioning in his interviews, and one we don’t hear so much on the men’s side, is his commitment to developing high-performance pathways domestically, as he’s quoted below, “I also look forward to continuing to help develop the high-performance pathway for women’s rugby in Canada.” That’s why he’s a keeper, hopefully Rugby Canada will apply the same logic when looking for a men’s coach and potential Director of Men’s Rugby after the 2027 World Cup.
BC Premier Schedule 2026-27
Men’s Premier 2026-27 Schedule, Results and Week 4 Standings
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 and standings.
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.
BC Premier Week 4 Results: Westshore Clobber Bayside, Capilano Fall to JBAA, Ravens Fly Past CW, Burnaby Stunned by Meraloma, UVic Outlast Rowers
Phil Mack to be Inducted into Victoria Sports Hall of Fame – Dinner and Ceremony on November 7th, 2026
Canada U20 Team Heading to Chile: 30 Man Roster Named – First Match Friday vs Namibia
BC Premier Week 3 Results: Ravens Second-Half Comeback Over UBC, UVic Fall to Burnaby, CW Demolished by James Bay, Capilano Top Bayside, Meraloma Sink Rowers
Canada v England – October 16th 2026
Canada Name Matchday 23 for Friday Night Clash Against World #1 England in Toronto
Canada prepare for their Friday night match against England in Toronto at 7pm local time, 4pm on the west coast. Canada will be looking for their first win against England since 2016. There is one change in the tight five with Sophie de Goede getting the start in the second row. Rachel Smith moves from second row to blindside flanker and Fabiola Forteza moves to the bench. In the backs Alex Tessier starts at flyhalf and Taylor Perry moves to second receiver. Alysha Corrigan starts on the wing and Charity Williams is out of the match day 23. In the front row reserves Emily Tuttosi and Brittany Kassil are in, Taylor McKnight and Sophie McDonald are out. In the backline reserves Claire Gallagher and Aurora Bowie are out and Shoshanah Seumanutafa is in.
Below is the Rugby Canada media release and an extensive set of data points from World Rugby on the Canada v England rivalry and the ranking permutations of all the WXV games on this weekend.
UBC Women’s Rugby – October 2026 Updates
Front Runners: The Story of UBC Women’s Rugby by Solana Pasqual
This documentary on the UBC women’s rugby program starts with its history and an interview with Ruth Hellerud-Brown recounting her first involvement in 1991. It then moves through the years and culminates in the story of the national championships in 2024 and 2025 and interviews with the current players. On the coaching side there are interviews with Dean Murten, Jake Thiel and Maria Gallo. The timing of the video release is good as we’re just starting the 2026 championship cycle where UBC are currently ranked 5th, behind Queen’s, Guelph, Laval and UVic. Will there be another chapter to write in the story, we’ll find out in November.
U20 Challenger Cup – Canada v Portugal
Canada Comeback Falls Short: Portugal 28 – Canada 26
Portugal came out quickly and put up 12 points in the first 6 minutes, it was 15-7 at the half. The 2nd half again saw Portugal score quickly and it was 28-14 with 5 minutes left. Canada had a strong surge at the end of the match led by UBC #8 Liam Kinghorn but they came up just short of tying the match. Canada place 3rd in their pool and will play Brazil on October 17th in their placement match for 5th/6th in the eight team tournament.
BC Rugby Weekend of October 10th 2026
Thanksgiving Weekend: UVic Defeat TWU in Coastal Cup Match 54-10
UVic should maintain their #3 national university ranking after a comprehensive win over TWU on Saturday. Robb McCaghren was on hand capturing it in photo and video. He caught one of the Vikes tries in slow motion. It was scored by #8 Robert Reid, nicknamed the baby rhino by UVic announcers. I believe it’s his second year and he’s one to watch. Last season, as a rookie, he played both hooker and loose forward for the Vikes. He’s out of Oak Bay high school and made Phil Smith’s Island XV list as the best high school #8 on the Island in 2025.
Canada Women’s XVs – October 2026 Updates
Kevin Rouet Names 31 Players for England Matches – Rori Wood, Caroline Crossley, Piper Logan Added
Coach Kevin Rouet has named 31 players for the two match series with England taking place in Toronto on October 16th and then Ottawa on October 23rd. There are a few new players coming in, Caroline Crossley as a loose forward, Rori Wood returns from injury and becomes another option at prop, Piper Logan in the backs gets her first chance at a XVs cap. Brittany Kassil who received a red card and suspension after the Scotland match is now back available to play. Some players missing from the Europe tour include Claire Gallagher, Maya Montiel, Cassandra Tuffnail, Sarah-Maude Lachance, Taylor McKnight.
U20 Challenger Cup 2026 – Canada vs Belgium
Belgium 41-14 Canada: Canada Crash in Second Half
Canada were leading at the half 7-6 but came off the rails in the second half as they left their focus in the change room at halftime. Two yellow cards and a slew of mental errors made it difficult to get any momentum in the second half. It started with a casual wave at a pass from a defender that led to a yellow card, then defenders forgot to focus on the ruck and the Belgium player said, thanks very much, picked the ball up untouched and jaunted in for a try. Next was a penalty awarded to Canada at the Belgium 22, the kicker put the ball directly into goal and a key possession was lost. It was mental error after mental error leading to penalties for Belgium, tries and another yellow card for Canada. Then panic mode hit as the scoreline increased and time ticked away, more errors, running the ball out from the 22 instead of clearing it, a double skip pass that’s intercepted and run back the length of the field for a try. It wasn’t that Belgium was a much better team, Canada self-inflicted much of the pain on itself in the second half. It will be interesting to see how they come out against Portugal in their next match, the championship is gone, but they can battle for a 3rd place finish. Canada face Portugal on Monday, October 12th.
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