Ravens Win Inaugural Battle of the Border Over Seattle
While the BC Premier kicked off last weekend, the UBCOB Ravens, last year’s champions, on a bye week, were south of the border in Ferndale, Washington at the Chuckanut Rugby Club playing Seattle, runners up in the USA club championship last season. It was billed as the Battle of the Border, we had run the initial story in July and Paul Horne sent us the match summary today, which we’ve posted below. The Ravens came away with $5,000 for their efforts in a 34-12 win. The Ravens will be hosting the Meraloma this coming weekend in the BC Premier.
from Paul Horne
The 2026 BC Premier Champion UBCOB Ravens traveled south of the 49th Parallel to take on the Seattle Orcas in the inaugural Battle of the Border. Hosted by the Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club on the beautiful grounds of the deWilde Rugby Fields, it was a perfect day to kick off the Fall season. UBCOB Ravens were the better side on the day and went home with a 34-12 win over the Orcas.
Seattle Orcas lost to New York Old Blue in the US Club side Championship last spring and were keen to accept the challenge that the 3 time BC Premier Champions would bring. The match, played in ideal sunny conditions, was full of some exciting rugby with some early season mistakes. The match was very competitive but with 15 minutes left, the Ravens put the game away with two well deserved trys. Halftime score was 12-7 Ravens.
Ravens Coach Graham Turner was please with the result and the reward of $5000 USD for the winning effort “The boys all had a great time, and would be happy to do it again. It was a unique experience for us, and a great official kickoff to our season.” Seattle Coach Kellen Gordon expressed how valuable getting games of this caliber are to the development of the game “The skill level and pace of play put us under pressure and that will go along way in preparing us for another run at the USA National club championship.”
Man of the match for Seattle was #13 Jeremiah Sio and for the Ravens was #8 Joe Locke.
Both teams enjoyed a great post match BBQ hosted by the Chuckanut Bay Club.
The hope is that this can become an annual Kick off to the Fall season with the BC Premier champions taking on the top team in the Pacific Northwest.
Seattle Rugby Challenges UBCOB Ravens to Battle of the Border on September 12th : $5000 Prize Money
This is an interesting way to start off the season for both Seattle and the UBCOB Ravens. Seattle, who used to play in the BC Premier, made it to the USA national club finals in the spring, just losing to New York in the final match. The Ravens are defending BC Premier champions. Seattle laid down the challenge and there’s even a $5,000 prize award for the winner, we assume that’s in USD. The match takes place in the US but just across the border at the Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club. It’s only 10 km across the border as the crow flies, or should I say as the raven flies. It’s about a 30 minute drive, depending on border conditions, from the nearest Canadian club which would by Bayside.
The Seattle women’s team have been competing in the women’s BC Premier recently but the men’s team left in 2023. Seattle would play the Pacific Pride in exhibition matches after that. It should be interesting to see the rosters available September 12th, we’ve posted rosters from both clubs from their recent matches in May, for Seattle their roster in the USA Club final versus New York and for the Ravens their roster in the BC Premier final. It’s likely both rosters will look a little different come September.
The Seattle write up and their Battle of the Border poster is appended below. The likely first question someone will ask is, “will it be live streamed”. We don’t know, there hasn’t been any mention of that in the Seattle news release. We’ll update this article when the match rosters are released.
Seattle Roster from May 2026
Ravens Roster from May 2026
from Seattle Rugby
Battle of the Border: Seattle Heads North to Open the 2026-2027 Season
Seattle Rugby Club is kicking off the 2026-2027 season the only way that makes sense after the year we just had: with a fight. On Saturday, September 12, our Men’s XV travels north to Ferndale, Washington, to take on Ravens Rugby BC in the inaugural Battle of the Border — a winner-take-all clash for $5,000 and bragging rights up and down the I-5 corridor.
This one has been building. Our Men’s XV closed out last season as USA Club Rugby D1 National Runner-Up, taking Seattle all the way to the national final. The Ravens arrive having claimed the 2026 BC Premier Championship. Two clubs, two countries, both coming off the best seasons of their history — and now they’re settling it on the pitch.
Hosted by Chuckanut Rugby Club at the deWilde Rugby & Polo Fields, the day is shaping up to be a proper rugby occasion. A preliminary match kicks things off at noon, followed by both national anthems, before Seattle and the Ravens take the field at 2:30 PM for the main event. Expect a beer garden, food and drinks, and a family-friendly atmosphere all afternoon.
But here’s the thing: this match isn’t just about our players. It’s about our people showing up for them. Seattle Rugby Club has always been a community group of members that happens to play rugby, and there’s no better way to open a new season than by packing the sideline in Ferndale and making sure the Ravens know exactly whose border they’re playing on.
The Details
What: Battle of the Border — Seattle Rugby Club vs. Ravens Rugby BC
When: Saturday, September 12, 2026 — main match at 2:30 PM
Where: deWilde Rugby & Polo Fields
Address: 7090 Dahlberg Rd, Ferndale, WA 98248
Admission: $10 per person, $10 per vehicle for parking; free for 18 and under
On the line: $5,000 winner-take-all prize money and cross-border bragging rights
This is the start of our season, and we want a Seattle crowd in Ferndale big enough that it doesn’t feel like an away game. Bring your family, bring your friends, wear your colors, and help us send a message north of the border: Seattle shows up.
See you at deWilde.
About the Seattle Rugby Club
Established in 1966, Seattle Rugby Club (formerly known as Seattle OPSB and Seattle Saracens) is an adult rugby union club focused on the fifteens code of the global game. Seattle Rugby proudly promotes the sport of rugby in North America both on and off the pitch through community-focused efforts as well as performing on game day. The club provides opportunities for men, women, and young people to engage with rugby at all levels.
THIS IS AWESOME, WE NEED MORE OF THIS!