BC Rugby Announce U19 and U17 Teams Travelling to Ontario for National Championships
Canada may not have a senior national championship representing all regions anymore but the annual U19 national championships continue with teams from BC, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Atlantic. That championship takes place in Guelph starting next Monday. Below are the BC rosters for U19 men and women, BC are also sending U17 boys and girls teams to challenge Ontario directly in a three game head to head series, the winner claims the O’Neills Challenge Cup. Those rosters are also included below in the BCRU media release.
If you want to catch up on last year’s results, the article is here. BC U19 women won gold, the U19 men won silver. Ontario Rugby as host should be providing the live stream, Alberta Rugby did last year as host. We’ll provide a link when it’s published and write a separate article on the U19 CRC tournament.
BCRU U19 Announcement
BC Rugby is delighted to announce the BC Bears U19 Men’s and Women’s XVs Squads that will compete at the 2026 Canadian Rugby U19 Championships at the University of Guelph, Ontario on July 20-26, 2026.
The BC Bears U19 XVs Squads will travel to the University of Guelph, Ontario, to compete for the 2026 Canadian U19 National Championship titles with both teams facing tough opposition from the Atlantic Rock, Alberta Wolfpack, Rugby Quebec and Rugby Ontario.
The BC Bears U19 Women, led once again by Head Coach Jake Thiel (UBC Thunderbirds) and Assistant Coach Scott Hunter (Abbotsford RFC), travel to Ontario as defending national champions. Prior to their 2025 Championship win, the BC Bears U19 Girls Program had not won a match at Nationals.
The BC Bears U19 Men Team are led by Head Coach Curry Hitchborn (Capilano RFC) and Assistant Coaches Didier Banse (UBC Thunderbirds) and Nate Mantle (Bayside Sharks RFC). The U19 Boys finished Runners-Up to Rugby Ontario twice over the past two years in Nova Scotia and Calgary and are aiming to go one better this time around.
Team Managers also attending are Ken McGovern (Men) and Kelly Hanvey (Women).
Squad selections were confirmed following the conclusion of the 2026 Provincial Regional Championships in Abbotsford, with both teams completing preparations in a pre-Tour Training Camp at Brit Lions RFC in Delta this past weekend.
“We’re very much looking forward to working with this group. Using the club, highschool and PRC tournament for selection, we were able to assemble a solid squad with a high competitive ceiling. It’s a solid blend of new faces and some returnees from last year that will help us perform to our very best over the course of the National Tournament,” said Curry Hitchborn, BC Bears U19 Men’s Head Coach.
“We are looking forward to working with this talented group of athletes. This team is ready to get to work, hoping to build momentum as we head to Guelph. We have some strong returning players from last year as well as some exciting new talent,” said Jake Thiel, BC Bears U19 Women’s Head Coach.
Our teams will proudly wear playing and training kit manufactured by our partner, O’Neills. Founded in 1918, O’Neills is renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation across the globe.
All matches are listed below.
BC BEARS U19 MEN’S SQUAD
Benard Bjorndal – Abbotsford RFC
Ben Shepherd – UBCO Heat
Dallin Westerlund – TWU Spartans
Daniel Turvey – Kamloops Raiders RFC
Davis Heppell – TWU Spartans
Dexter Tornquist – Queen’s University
Elijah Palov – UBC Thunderbirds
Evan Carlson – TWU Spartans
Everett Pinkoski – Kelowna Crows RFC
Ewan Webber-Smith – UBC Thunderbirds
Finn Murphy – McGill University
Gavin Kelly – UVIC Vikes
Grady Watt – NIVRU
Greg Putterill – Pacific Pride
Holden Sawatzky – UBCOB Ravens
Jack MacAlister – Queen’s University
James Walker – Langley RFC
Kai Reynolds – Kelowna Crows RFC
Kayden Dunn – Bayside Sharks RFC
Luke Prest – Cowichan RFC
Massimo Ruben – Salish Sea Warriors
Matthew George – Queen’s University
Michael Oughtred – UVIC Vikes
Ryelly MacDonald – Abbotsford RFC
Samuel Blundell – Pacific Pride
Simroy John – Pacific Pride
COACHES: Curry Hitchborn (Capilano RFC), Didier Banse (UBC Thunderbirds), Nate Mantle (Bayside Sharks RFC)
MANAGER: Ken McGovern
BC BEARS U19 MEN CRCs MATCH SCHEDULE
July 21: BC Bears vs. Atlantic Rock – 11:30am PT/2:30pm ET
July 23: BC Bears vs. Alberta Wolfpack – 12:00pm PT/3:00pm ET
July 24: BC Bears vs. Rugby Quebec – 12:00pm PT/3:00pm ET
July 26: BC Bears vs. Rugby Ontario Blues – 8:30am PT/11:30am ET
BC BEARS U19 WOMEN’S SQUAD
Abi Stanley – Vancouver Thunderbirds/James Bay AA
Amber Vallance – Abbotsford RFC
Amelia Handysides – Cowichan RFC
Angelina Boswell – Vancouver Thunderbirds
Anna Plate – Vancouver Thunderbirds
Asia Olynk – James Bay AA
Belle Rousseau – Vancouver Thunderbirds/James Bay AA
Briar Tait – James Bay AA
Charlie Hutton – CV Rapids Rugby
Claudia Vallance – Abbotsford RFC
Ellie Brandwood – James Bay AA
Emilie Sinclair – Langley RFC
Gwenlili Jones – University of Bath
Hailey Carroll – James Bay AA
Maja Olcen – Vancouver Thunderbirds/James Bay AA
Makella Smortschevsky – Capilano RFC
Marin O’Regan – Castaway Wanderers RFC
Poppy-Anne Elcock – Vancouver Thunderbirds/United Rugby
Raffielle Barrack – Cowichan RFC
Rhaea Geddert – Abbotsford RFC
Sasha McKee – Westshore RFC
Savannah Pelletier – Vancouver Thunderbirds/Abbotsford RFC
Sophie Hayes – Castaway Wanderers RFC
Sophie Weeks – University of Ottawa
Tayla Kempf – Abbotsford RFC
COACHES: Jake Thiel (UBC Thunderbirds), Scott Hunter (Abbotsford RFC)
MANAGER: Kelly Hanvey
BC BEARS U19 WOMEN CRCs MATCH SCHEDULE
July 21: BC Bears vs. Atlantic Rock – 10:30am PT/1:30pm ET
July 23: BC Bears vs. Alberta Wolfpack – 10:30am PT/1:30pm ET
July 24: BC Bears vs. Rugby Quebec – 10:30am PT/1:30pm ET
July 26: BC Bears vs. Rugby Ontario Blues – 7:00am PT/10:00am ET
BCRU U17 Announcement
BC Rugby is delighted to announce the BC Bears U17 Boys and Girls XVs Squads that will face Rugby Ontario Blues in a Three-Match Series for the O’Neills Challenge Cup at the University of Guelph, Ontario, this July 20-26.
The BC Bears U17 Boys and Girls XVs Teams head to Guelph as defending O’Neills Challenge Cup Champions, having won their respective 2025 Series hosted in Ontario last summer.
Both Programs head East with fresh Coaching Line-Ups for 2026. The BC Bears U17 Boys are led by Head Coach Jamie McKenzie (TORA) and Assistant Coaches Noah Pryce-Baff (Kats RFC / BC Rugby) and Patryk Zuk (Capilano RFC). The BC Bears U17 Girls are led by Head Coach Dean Murten (UBC/Vancouver Thunderbirds) and Assistant Coaches Julia Sugawara (TWU Spartans) and Maria Gallo (UBC Thunderbirds).
The BC Bears U17 XVs Squads will travel to Ontario with the U19 Men’s and Women’s XVs Programs, with the Three-Match Series taking place at Guelph University alongside the 2026 Canadian U19 Rugby Championships (CRCs).
Our BC Bears teams will proudly wear playing and training kit manufactured by our partner, O’Neills. Founded in 1918, O’Neills is renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation across the globe.
Full Rosters and Match Schedules are below.
BC BEARS U17 BOYS SQUAD
Austin Andrews – UBCOB Ravens
Beau Morgan – Meraloma RFC
Cameron Jones – Abbotsford RFC
Daniel Sawyer – Capilano RFC
Daniel Watkins – Abbotsford RFC
Dom Tapparo – Abbotsford RFC
Drayden Dhinjal – UBCOB Ravens
Evann Postma – Abbotsford RFC
Gage Kempton – Bayside Sharks RFC
Gavin MacDonald – Cowichan RFC
Hamid El Yousef – Abbotsford RFC
Kingston Smith – Burnaby Lake RFC
Landis Fulton – Salish Sea Warriors
Mason Balzer – Abbotsford RFC
Mattias Suleman – UBCOB Ravens
Michael Miller – UBCOB Ravens
Oliver du Toit – Capilano RFC
Quinlan Bjorndal – Abbotsford RFC
Ryley Storey – Abbotsford RFC
Santiago La Salvia – Castaway Wanderers
Spencer Black – Capilano RFC
Theo Schaddelee – Castaway Wanderers
Theo Young – Collingwood School
Tryton Haddad – Capilano RFC
Tuma Houston – Salish Sea Warriors
COACHES: Jamie McKenzie (TORA), Noah Pryce-Baff (Kats RFC), Patryk Zuk (Capilano RFC)
MANAGER: Ken McGovern
BC BEARS U17 BOYS 2026 O’NEILLS CHALLENGE CUP SCHEDULE
July 20: Game 1 vs. Rugby Ontario Blues – 2:30pm PT/5:30pm ET
July 22: Game 2 vs. Rugby Ontario Blues – 12:00pm PT/3:00pm ET
July 25: Game 3 vs. Rugby Ontario Blues – 2:30pm PT/5:30pm ET
BC BEARS U17 GIRLS SQUAD
Alyvia Draney – Abbotsford RFC
Brooklyn Cybuliak – Abbotsford RFC
Chantelle Lambert – CV Rapids Rugby
Charlotte Agnew – CV Rapids Rugby
Chloe Baxendale – James Bay AA
Chloe Whittaker – James Bay AA
Claire Warsaba – Capilano RFC
Eliza Handysides – Salish Sea Warriors
Eli Guhl – CV Rapids Rugby
Elliott Martin – Westshore RFC
Emma Narraway – Salish Sea Warriors
Evelyn Anne Wilke – Salish Sea Warriors
Florence Elcock – United Rugby
Grace Martin – James Bay AA
Jayde Howard – CV Rapids Rugby
Laesa Tinworth – Abbotsford RFC
Lily Baxendale – Cowichan RFC
Louie McKenzie – CV Rapids Rugby
Penelope McKee – Langley RFC
Poet McRae-King – CV Rapids Rugby
Stella Ference – Salish Sea Warriors
Sydney Henderson – Abbotsford RFC
Sylvanah Belsham – Abbotsford RFC
Wendy Huynh – Abbotsford RFC
COACHES: Dean Murten (UBC Thunderbirds), Maria Gallo (UBC Thunderbirds), Julia Sugawara (TWU Spartans)
MANAGER: Kelly Hanvey
BC BEARS U17 GIRLS 2026 O’NEILLS CHALLENGE CUP SCHEDULE
July 20: Game 1 vs. Rugby Ontario Blues – 1:00pm PT/4:00pm ET
July 22: Game 2 vs. Rugby Ontario Blues – 10:30am PT/1:30pm ET
July 25: Game 3 vs. Rugby Ontario Blues – 1:00pm PT/4:00pm ET