BC Bears vs Ontario Blues Match #1

BC Name Lineup for Match #1 vs Ontario Blues

BC have named 26 players for their match against Ontario tomorrow evening at Klahanie Park, 6pm kickoff. It’s a strong starting XV with BC Premier experience, the one outlier being Div 1 prop Wes Black from Kamloops. It will be interesting to see how he copes, potentially going up against national team props Djustice Sears-Duru and Matt Tierney. He’ll have veteran hooker Jesse Mackail to work alongside and Emerson Prior on the other pillar. Ontario have yet to announce a lineup but we’ll update the article when they do.

It’s a rare appearance for the Carsons in rep rugby but very welcome after they provided the engine room for the BC Premier champions, Ravens. The loose forward group looks strong with Reegan O’Gorman, Cody Nhanala and Joe Locke.

Billy Wickham gets the start at #9 with Brock Gallagher as reserve. Lockie Kratz as expected starts at #10, Gabe Casey and Josh Thiel potential backups. The McMullin brothers playing together in the centres, we haven’t seen that in a while. The back three of D’Shawn Bowen, Jack Shaw and Liam James look dangerous.

The live stream link is below:

Alternates
Conrad Mitchell | Capilano RFC
Hamish Janes | UBCOB Ravens
Tyler Wong | Unattached
Austin James | Capilano RFC

from BC Rugby

BC Rugby is delighted to announce the BC Bears Squad for the upcoming 2026 Canada Cup Series against the Ontario Blues, one of the most anticipated interprovincial match-ups of the Canadian Rugby calendar.

Thanks to funding from the Canadian Rugby Foundation and support from O’Neills Sportswear, the Bears face the Blues in an epic two-match Series for the rights to hoist the Canada Cup!

Led by one of the most decorated Coaches in Canadian Rugby history, Curry Hitchborn, this Bears squad brings together a blend of experienced athletes and emerging talent drawn from Clubs across British Columbia. Coaches emphasized that the squad reflects both current form and long-term development goals, with a strong focus on physicality, speed, and cohesion as the Bears prepare for a demanding double against the travelling Blues.

Hitchborn said: “We have selected a squad of 42 players. The selection process used was based on in season performances and attendance at both regional and provincial sessions and games. I want to personally thank the guidance and leadership of John Tait and his staff helping get this series together as well as the Canadian Rugby Foundation. It goes without saying that these selected players are a credit to their community and that work starts with their clubs and regions.”

The 2026 Canada Cup Series, a new annual showdown between Canada’s top two provincial rugby programs, will see BC and Ontario renew their rivalry in a multi-match format designed to test depth and consistency across both squads. Staff within the BC program have highlighted the series as a key benchmark in Canada’s high-performance rugby pathway.

Final preparations are now underway as the BC Bears assemble for the opening game on Wednesday, May 20 at Klahanie Park, North Vancouver – kick-off at 6:00pm PST.

Tickets are still available for both matches, with the second game taking place on Saturday, May 23 at Shawnigan Lake School at 2:00pm PST.

Tickets are available to purchase here or at the gate on arrival.

Both matches will be livestreamed on the BC Rugby YouTube channel.

The BC Bears Squad is as follows:

BC Name Lineup for Match #1 vs Ontario Blues

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