A Review of 2025 from April to June: BC Club Finals, Pacific Four Series, Challenger 7s Series, High School Finals, U20 Men in Oceania Tournament, World Rugby 7s Final, MLR Final
The period from April to June saw the BC Club leagues wrap up with the Ravens winning the men’s Premier, Thunderbirds the women’s. The national women started their Pacific Four series in the USA, they would defeat USA and Australia and draw with NZ. The men’s 7s team were in the Challenger 7s series and finished top four winning admission to the World Rugby 7s Final in LA. Unfortunately they didn’t finish top 4 there and have to start back at the RAN 7s and SVNS 3. The women won Bronze in LA. The BC high school finals took place with St. George’s winning the top competition for boys, G.P. Vanier for girls. The U20 men did exceptionally well in the Oceania U20 tournament, defeating Samoa and Tonga but losing to eventual winner, Fiji. New England with 7 Canadians won the MLR title in June.
APRIL
We took an early look at what the men’s 2025 XVs team might look like based on the players who were getting regular starting time in the MLR. Looking back we got most of it right but players like Andrew Coe fell off the radar for some reason. Andrew Quattrin went to France and didn’t get play for Canada.
The SVNS series continued in April starting with Singapore where the women won Bronze and were now 4th in the series.
The BC Premier playoffs started in April as well as across all divisions. The UBCOB Ravens and UBC Thunderbirds earned quarter-final byes in the Premier.
The women’s XVs would add Ireland to their pre-RWC schedule.
The men’s 7s team finished 4th in Krakow, the final Challenger Series tournament, and finished 3rd overall. They would go to LA to try to win promotion to the SVNS 2 series in 2026.
The men’s U20 team was announced that would make the trip to Fiji in May to face Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.
The Tropical 7s tournament took place in Florida in April with Canadian teams claiming 6 titles.
The semi-final schedules for the BC Premier and 6 other divisions was announced.
MAY
World Rugby unveiled their SVNS model for 2026 and beyond with the SVNS, SVNS 2, SVNS 3 format.
Canada’s women’s XVs team kicked off their Pacific Four series with a win over USA at the beginning of May.
It was the finals weekend for BC Rugby, Ravens won the men’s Premier, Thunderbirds won the women’s Premier title.
It was a busy weekend to open May with the LA 7s taking place, the women won Bronze, the men failed to qualify for the SVNS 2 series. Now they’re starting at the bottom again, they won RAN 7s and now have to finish top 2 in the SVNS 3 in January 2026.
Rugby Canada scrambled to announce a last minute U18 camp which overlapped pre-announced events such as the BC PRCs and the Howlers U18 tour to Germany. Hopefully in 2026 Rugby Canada can communicate with other entities in the elite U18 space and co-ordinate efforts.
Rugby Canada announced Calgary as the host of the Canada v USA match. World Rugby also announced the Pacific Nations Cup schedule for 2025.
The high school rugby 7s season was in full swing and the regional championships were taking place which would dictate the provincial tournament rankings. Belmont won the Island 7s title.
The Canada U20 women were in Ireland for a two match series. They split the series 1-1.
The Canada senior women were in NZ for their 2nd Pacific Four match, it ended in a 27-27 draw.
Canada finished up their Pacific Four series with a resounding 45-7 win over Australia.
The men’s U20 team defeated Samoa 44-20 to start the Oceania U20 tournament.
It was announced Sean White was leaving his role as the men’s Canada 7s coach. The team failed to make the SVNS 2 cut and they would now have an interim coach, Christiaan Esterhuizen, shared with the Pacific Pride Academy.
The women’s Island Blue v Island Gold series was decided when the Island won game two and assured their win of the three game series with a 2-0 lead.
May wrapped up with the BC high school championships, St. George’s would claim the boys AAA title abd G.P. Vanier won the Girls AAA title.
JUNE
Canada men’s U20 lost to Fiji 56-24 in their second game of the Oceania U20 tournament.
With the BCRU AGM on the horizon we looked at the votes per club which is a reflection on the number of programs they run.
Canada U20 men finished off a positive tournament with 57-27 win over Tonga, going 2 for 3 in the tournament.
The men’s coach Stephen Meehan announced his long list for the summer tests.
MLR had reached the quarter-finals with 23 Canadians taking the field.
A 7s league in India kicked off its inaugural season with 7 Canadian players participating.
The BCRU released its 2024-25 annual report.
The BCRU announced a new President in June, Andy Margolis, they announced his resignation in December.
New England claim the MLR title with 7 Canadians in the roster.
The UBCOB Ravens closed out June announcing they would re-establish a women’s team with Jake Thiel as coach. They were scheduled in the women’s Premier but haven’t been able to field a team in 2025. We’ll see what 2026 brings.