An Early Look at the 2025-26 BC Premier Season: 17 Match Weekends, Double Club Round, Single Round vs Pride
The BC Rugby season is about 2 months away but it’s never to early to start thinking about it, right? This year’s Premier season looks like it will kick off September 13th with the same 10 teams from last year. Last year due to weather cancellations the number of games played by each team varied from 12 to 15. In 2025-26 each team is scheduled to play 17 matches. There will be a single round against the Pacific Pride and a double, home and away round, against the other 8 teams.
Last year the season started September 28th, this coming season starting 2 weeks earlier, in the good weather, will allow the extra 2 weeks of competition. There will be a 6 week break between mid-December to mid-January with make up weekends available during the start and end of that period. It looks like the usual break weekends Thanksgiving, Remembrance Day, Family Weekend, Sevens Weekend, Easter Weekend. It’s always possible clubs could use one of those to make up games if necessary.
The Coastal Cup looks like it will continue as well between UBC, UVic, TWU and the Pride. We hear the Ontario Blues will travel out west some time in the 2025-26 season to play the Pride, we’re not sure what other fixtures there will be.
Another bit of interesting news is that Langley has expressed their interest to enter the 2026-27 Premier. You can check out their social media account for that announcement.
Last season there were 2 consecutive weekends in early February when games were cancelled due to field closures, the only games that went on were at Starlight Stadium on the turf. Hopefully clubs will learn from this and at least look into booking stadiums during the “shoulder” season (December to mid February) or checking possible availability. Clubs co-operating for double headers at the stadium might be a good idea. The Hong Kong Premier used to run triple headers every Saturday at a stadium setting with a quality live stream (with commentary), and look, now they’re going to the World Cup for the first time (slightly joking here about the connection).
Another hope for the new season is clubs will do more self-promotion through live streaming. There are a few clubs that are making progress in this area. In case anyone needs a reminder of the benefits of live streaming, here are some points from Ai.
Live streaming offers numerous benefits for an amateur sports club, enhancing visibility, engagement, and operational efficiency. Here’s a concise breakdown:
- Increased Reach and Exposure: Live streaming allows the club to reach a global audience, connecting with fans, families, and supporters who can’t attend in person. This boosts the club’s visibility and helps attract new members or sponsors.
- Fan Engagement: Streaming games and events keeps fans connected, fostering a stronger community. Interactive features like live chats or comments enable real-time engagement, making supporters feel involved.
- Revenue Opportunities: Clubs can monetize streams through sponsorships, ads, or pay-per-view models. Even small donations from viewers can add up, providing funds for equipment, facilities, or events.
- Showcasing Talent: Live streams highlight players’ skills to scouts, coaches, or other clubs, offering exposure for athletes seeking opportunities at higher levels.
- Archiving and Analysis: Recordings of live streams can be used for post-game analysis, helping coaches and players review performance, improve strategies, and track progress over time.
- Cost-Effective Promotion: Streaming is a low-cost way to promote the club compared to traditional marketing. Platforms like YouTube, Twitch, or even social media (e.g., Facebook Live) are free or affordable to use.
- Community Building: Sharing live events strengthens ties with the local community and diaspora, encouraging support and participation from those who feel connected to the club’s identity or region.
Accessibility for All: Families, friends, or fans with scheduling conflicts or mobility issues can watch games from anywhere, increasing inclusivity. - Brand Development: Consistent, quality streams build a professional image, making the club more attractive to potential sponsors, partners, or media outlets.
- Data and Insights: Streaming platforms often provide analytics (e.g., viewer numbers, demographics), helping clubs understand their audience and tailor content or marketing efforts.
To maximize these benefits, the club should invest in basic streaming equipment (e.g., a decent camera and microphone) and promote streams through social media or local networks. Even simple setups can yield significant returns in engagement and growth.
2024-25 Final Regular Season Standings
