BCRU Revives Ruth Hellerud-Brown Regional Competition – Where’s the McKechnie Cup?
The BCRU has revived the regional competition for women this year, the Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup. It will replace the Blue-Gold Series that was held in the spring. The RHB Cup will be an in-season competition unlike the Blue-Gold Series which took place out of season in May/June. The competition will run over four weekends from November to March during bye and make-up weekends, Nov 8th, Dec 6th, Feb 14th, March 14th. It raises questions about the status of the men’s regional competition, the McKechnie Cup.
The regional competitions are meant to be part of the national pathway, they focus on Canada-eligible players, in theory it’s supposed to be club, regional, provincial, national in the order of progression. The BC regional pathways have been hit and miss over the past decades. The McKechnie Cup was started in 1896 and was interrupted by WWI from 1915-19, missed 1934, then ran continuously until 2005, even through WWII. Since 2005 it has been competed for 7 times, the last in 2022 when the Pacific Pride won it. 2019 was the last year all three regional competitions took place in one year, the Dunbar Keg for U20, the Hellerud-Brown Cup for senior women, and the McKechnie Cup for senior men.
The BCRU noted in their 2023 media release that the winner of the Blue vs Gold series would be awarded the RHB Cup but we haven’t seen any confirmation of that. The new RHB Cup format will include the 3 regions plus the Vancouver Thunderbirds. It’s good for the Thunderbirds as there’s been a bit of confusion around how the program fits into the club system. It’s basically the UBC Thunderbirds university side as a club side, they ran 2 teams in the Premier in 2023-24, the same in 2024-25 but one team wasn’t eligible for the playoffs, they have one team in the 2025-26 Premier and now they’re also in the regional competition. They won both Premier titles in 2023-24, 2024-25 and are likely favourites for 2025-26. It’s possible they could do the triple this season, repeat as National University champions, Premier champions and now Regional champions.
There was an entertaining men’s regional match this summer, Island Tide vs Vancouver Wave at Shawnigan in July but it was exhibition only, a one off match. Hopefully 2026 will see a return of the McKechnie Cup as well.
from BCRU
Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup to Return in November
Building on the unprecedented success of Canada’s Senior Women’s National Team at the 2025 Rugby World Cup, BC Rugby is proud to announce the return of the Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup, a premier Senior Women’s Regional Competition that will reignite elite women’s rugby across the province.
Set to kick off across the 2025/26 Senior Club season, the Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup will feature four teams – the Vancouver Island Tide, Fraser Valley Rugby Union, Vancouver Wave, and Vancouver Thunderbirds – competing across four rounds of high-calibre action. The competition replaces the former BC Rugby Senior Women’s Blue vs Gold Series, expanding opportunities for female athletes and strengthening pathways to provincial and national selection.
Named in honour of Ruth Hellerud-Brown, one of BC’s most influential rugby pioneers and former captain of Canada’s inaugural 1991 Women’s World Cup team, the Cup represents a renewed commitment to celebrating excellence, leadership, and legacy in women’s rugby.
Athletes aged 18+ are invited to participate in regional trials and training sessions. Coaches will consider athletes for curtain-raiser matches during the Spring rounds of the Cup Competition. Those not selected for the initial rounds may have opportunities to participate in trial matches organized by the Regions in the Fall, which will align with the National U20/U21 Program touring and competing in Spring 2026.
The purpose of the Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup is to identify and develop potential future Canadian international players.
Inspiring the Next Generation After a Landmark World Cup
The return of the Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup comes at a moment of historic momentum for women’s rugby in Canada. Following the Canadian Senior Women’s National Team’s inspirational run to the 2025 Rugby World Cup Final, interest and participation in women’s rugby is peaking in BC.
The competition is designed to showcase BC’s best Senior Women’s talent, with each regional team representing a distinct geographic area and club network. Athletes will have the opportunity to compete in a high-performance environment that bridges the gap between regional and national-level play, while also providing selectors with an enhanced view of the province’s top athletes.
A Celebration of Regional Pride and Women’s Excellence
Over four competitive rounds, fans across the province will be treated to a display of speed, skill, and teamwork emblematic of Canada’s world-class women’s rugby program. Every fixture promises to deliver thrilling rugby and passionate local rivalries.
The Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup will serve as a key component of BC Rugby’s performance pathway, aligning with Rugby Canada’s national talent development framework. The goal is to ensure that BC continues to produce the world-class athletes who drive Canada’s international success both now and in the future.
BC Rugby’s Technical Director, John Tait, emphasized the long-term impact of the competition:
“The return of the Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup will strengthen the foundation of women’s rugby in BC and help ensure that the next generation of Canadian internationals comes from right here in our province,” said Tait.
Vancouver Island Tide President, Jen Ross, said: “The Crimson Tide have long awaited the return of the Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup competition and see it as an opportunity to showcase the talent within our Club system, affording overlooked and up-and-coming young talent an opportunity to be seen on a higher stage.”
Vancouver Wave Coach, Demi Stamatakis, said: “I remember playing in the Ruth Hellerud-Brown cup as a young athlete for the Vancouver Wave. It was the highlight of my rugby season and an opportunity to bond with other club players across the province; reaching for greatness together. I can’t wait to provide the same opportunity for the next generation of athletes, and I’m excited to see what club athletes come out to compete.”
Vancouver Thunderbirds Head Coach, Dean Murten, added: “It’s exciting to reestablish the Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup. Having four teams will provide the athletes and coaches with strong, quality opposition.”
Vancouver Island Tide Women’s Director, Christine Shepherd, said: “VIRU is very excited to be part of the series and looking forward to providing enhanced training and game opportunities for Island athletes.”
COMPETITION SCHEDULE & DETAILS
The 2025/26 Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup will feature four rounds of play held between November 2025 and March 2026, with fixtures hosted across the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island.
ROUND 1 – November 8, 2025
Vancouver Wave vs. Vancouver Island Tide
Fraser Valley Rugby Union vs. Vancouver Thunderbirds
ROUND 2 – December 6, 2025
Vancouver Island Tide vs. Fraser Valley
Vancouver Thunderbirds vs. Vancouver Wave
ROUND 3 – February 14, 2026
Vancouver Island Tide vs. Vancouver Thunderbirds
Vancouver Wave vs. Fraser Valley
FINALS – March 14, 2026 (Location TBD)
1st seed vs. 2nd seed
3rd seed vs. 4th seed
It feels like a missed opportunity to include the rest of the province in this. TORA has been doing great work in the Southern Interior, as have the Aurora Wolves in Northern BC and the Cariboo. Surely it’s time to at least give the rest of the interior a chance to put a team together. Lots of great talent!