Author Archive: BCRN

Vancouver 7s 2026 – Men

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Canada Win Challenge Series with 3-1 Record: Next Montevideo on March 21-22

After winning both matches on Day 1 against Chile and Japan, Canada went 1-1 on Day 2, losing to Chile and defeating Japan. That gives them an overall 3-1 record and the Challenge tournament title. It’s scant consolation if they can’t convert that momentum to a better performance in the two remaining SVNS 2 tournaments in Montevideo (March 21-22) and Sao Paulo (March 28-29) to claim a top 4 position. It will be interesting to see who head coach Christiaan Esterhuizen chooses for the tour. Lockie Kratz, the team leader, looks a lock and Morgan di Nardo is starting to reclaim his form. Jack Shaw showed well in the last match, Ian Jones showed some pace and tracked back well on defence. Young players like Adam Doane and Andrew Cooper would be an asset. Veterans Elias Hancock and Johnny Franklin might be on the list. Will Thomas Isherwood and Josiah Morra be healthy for the trip? That announcement might show up next week from Rugby Canada.

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Vancouver 7s 2026 – Women

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Women Rebound on Day 2 to Go 2-0 and Claim 5th Place

It was a better performance on Day 2 with Savannah Bauder putting in a strong performance. Carissa Norsten was helped off the field in the second match which will be a concern with the New York tournament next weekend. Some of the returning veterans were starting to find their form, Charity Williams showed some speed on the outside but defensive work remains a concern and will have to be addressed by the coaches. It was confirmed on social media that Piper Logan tore her MCL so will be out for a while and with Krissy Scurfield recuperating and Carissa Norsten a question mark the squad depth will be tested in NY. Canada (60) remain 5th in the series behind France (66) and ahead of Japan (54).

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CanWest 7s 2026 – UBC

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UVic Upset UBC 26-5 to Win Final Tournament but UBC Win CanWest 7s Series Title

The previous story heading was “Can UBC Be Defeated” and the answer was yes as UVic proved today but UBC win the CanWest 7s title by virtue of their first two tournament wins. UVic claim 2nd place in the series and TWU 3rd. The final session at UBC including the UVic v UBC match can be viewed on the Canada West TV stream. Commentary today was provided by Shalaya Valenzuela and Skye Farish.

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Vancouver Sevens Invitational (VSI) 2026

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Fraser Valley East Claims U16 Girls Title; BC Gold U18 Women Win Gold

It was the women carrying the banner for BC at the VSI with Fraser Valley East winning Gold in U16 and Fraser Valley West winning Bronze, well done to the Valley. In U18 women it was BC Gold making it to the final and defeating Ontario in the final at BC Place. The men fell short with the BC U18 men getting blanked in the medals, Vancouver Island Tide claimed Silver in U16, kudos to them. It’s good to recognize the successful coaches as well, BC Gold U18 women’s coach is Darcy Patterson assisted by Shalaya Valenzuela. The Fraser Valley East U16 girls’ coaches are Slade Rozell, Josh Olafsen, Lindsay Nicholson, all the players were from Abbotsford. The Fraser Valley West U16 girls’ coaches were Katherine Siemens and Kelly Shields, the players were from Langley and United. The U16 boys’ Tide coach was Eric Slade, the players were from CW and JBAA. The tournament scores are on the BCRU events page.

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High School Rugby Updates – March 2026

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Phil Smith Launches 1st In Touch Newsletter of the 2026 High School Rugby Season

A sure sign of spring is Phil Smith’s In Touch rugby newsletter covering boys rugby on Vancouver Island. We encourage other educators/coaches to do similar for their regions, whether they be focused on boys or girls rugby or both. You can send your newsletter to editor@bcrugbynews.com

A few thoughts of my own reading Phil’s newsletter. Phil notes Quw’utsun (Cowichan) “has opted for sevens despite having a splendid 2025 XV season”. Indeed in 2025 they defeated Shawnigan Lake School in the regular season and were top ranked on Phil’s list at one point, apparently they’re going full out in XVs in the Juniors this year and doing 7s for the Seniors for one year. Another point, a reader sent me in the score for the Robert Bateman vs Shawnigan preseason match, won by Robert Bateman 22-17. Robert Bateman are touring to NZ and Australia this year, leaving next week. Also don’t count out Shawnigan, they lost to Quw’utsun last year in the regular season but ended up in the final, only losing to St. George’s. Looking forward to the upcoming high school rugby season.

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Bayside Sharks – March 2026

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Bayside Sharks Announce Intention to Move Up to Premier Next Season – Seek Head Coach

Bayside Sharks rugby club have announced their intention of moving up to the BC Premier for the 2026-27 season and are seeking a Head Coach, the announcement, poster and link to the application page are listed below. In July the Langley rugby club also announced their intention of moving up to BC Premier next season, that would potentially grow the league to 11 teams plus the Pacific Pride (Rugby Canada Academy) from its current 9 teams plus Pride. Currently each team plays 17 matches, a home/away with the other 8 teams plus one match against the Rugby Canada academy side.

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Kamloops Rugby Updates – February 2026

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Kamloops Match Reports by William Shaw: Women Draw with Caps at Klahanie, Men Defeat Kats

The last early morning of the regular season, saw the KRC Senior Ladies leaving Exhibition Park at 5:30am this morning for Capilanos. After weeks of rain and water logged pitches, it was sunny skies and a relatively dry playing surface at Kahlanie Park.

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BC Rugby Weekend of February 28th 2026

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BC Premier Week 15 Results: Ravens Edge Capilano, Westshore Thump CW, UVic Lose to JBAA, UBC Pummel Meraloma – Women’s Premier Burnaby Defeat Abbotsford, Westshore Overcome CW, Ravens Fall to Meraloma

Week 15 has wrapped with most teams only having 3 matches left in the regular season. Next weekend is the Vancouver 7s so there will be a break in the action before Week 16 resumes on March 14th. Ravens maintain their lead at the top, Westshore and UBC remain in a battle chasing 2nd place and a quarter-final bye. Capilano and James Bay remain in 4th and 5th place respectively and Burnaby reclaim 6th place with UVic having work to do in order to make the post season. In women’s Premier Westshore closed the gap on 1st place Lomas while CW dropped to 5th and Burnaby rose to 3rd with very little separating the top 5 teams.

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BC Bears logo 2024

BC Bears Update – February 2026

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BC Bears vs Ontario Blues Two Match Series in May: Hosts Capilano and Shawnigan Lake School

It’s good news to hear there will be senior men’s rep competition this spring. Ontario are visiting BC for 3 matches, one against a regional team, Vancouver Island, before taking on the BC Bears for two games, one at Capilano and the other at Shawnigan Lake School.

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Premier Women’s Rugby – February 2026 – Round 12

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Update on the English Premier Women’s Rugby (PWR) Round 12 – Eighteen Canadians in Action

It was Round 12 of the PWR in England, there were 18 Canadian players in action. There are six more rounds before the semi-finals with the top four teams participating. It looks as if Saracens and Gloucester will be in that top 4 with Exeter, Harlequins and Trailfinders battling for the remaining two spots. Sophie de Goede and Olivia Apps were missing from the Saracens roster, de Goede is returning from injury while Apps may possibly be headed back for the 7s in Vancouver in just over a week’s time.

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