BC Set to Prioritize U20 Competition in September to Align U20 Season with National U20 Selection and Schedule
The BCRU have decided to get serious about the U20 age group and supporting the national U20 team and pathway. BC have been dominant nationally at the U19 level, yet haven’t seen that dominance translate in the number of selections for the national U20 squad.
BC’s early announcement of their U20 plans will hopefully get the attention of national selectors and perhaps even out of province U20 players who want to showcase their talents in a top U20 competition. There are many clubs in the four BC regions who would be eager to support elite U20 talent.
The BCRU says the competition will begin September 13th, there will be four rounds with a final between the top two teams. Hopefully there will be live stream as well as the BCRU have invested in the VEO AI camera system which is easier to set up and stream.
from BCRU
BC Rugby is delighted to announce the return of the Dunbar Keg for the 2023/24 season with support from the ONNI Group.
Beginning on September 13, the Dunbar Keg competition will feature teams from South Vancouver Island Tide, North Vancouver Island Tsunami, Fraser Valley Rugby Union and the Vancouver Wave (Vancouver Rugby Union).
All teams will play a round-robin format, including a second game between the Island and Mainland teams, to determine the top two teams that will face each other in the Cup Final.
The competition provides development and identification opportunities for U20 male athletes, enabling each region’s top junior boys to bridge the gap between competing in Senior competitions and help to retain them within Rugby programming.
BC Rugby will be the only provincial sports organization with a best-on-best Regional U20 competition that is strategically placed ahead of the annual Rugby Canada U20 Program selection and campaign. This competition will provide an advantage to BC U20 pathway athletes and directly benefit BC Rugby’s Senior Fall Leagues to develop these players for their respective Club’s season commencement.
Dunbar Keg matches will enable players coming from High-School and junior Club Programs to experience further peer-to-peer Rugby, supported by regional Coaches to further develop their game understanding and experience ahead of consideration for the Senior Leagues that follow.
Previously, many young players that were not ready for Men’s Premier League, Premier Reserve or Division 1 were either left behind or put into a league that did not provide an engaging enough experience to retain and develop them.
BC’s University Programs have all agreed to work closely within each region to provide athletes, coaching and logistical support wherever possible to help make this competition a success. This will help further develop a connection between BC’s Universities and their players with Member Clubs.
Through the support and partnership of the ONNI Group, subsidies will be available for hosting matches ($600) and ferry travel ($1k) to help offset costs that otherwise potentially limit this age band from participating.
Registration for this competition will be set up through Sportlomo to ensure everyone that is participating is registered and therefore insured. Players will still register for their Clubs as normal, and be dually registered with their respective regions in the sign-up for the U20 Dunbar Keg competition.