There are 19 Clubs represented in the semi-finals, 12 from the lower mainland, 1 from the interior, and 6 from the island. Meraloma have the most teams in the semis with teams in 4 divisions, followed by UBC and Westshore with teams in 3 divisions. Claiming doubles are UBCOB Ravens, Abbotsford, Squamish, Rowers, Comox, and Kamloops.
A couple of reminders from the BCRU, the ID Sessions for Youth in April and Volunteers Required for BC Club Finals Day in Burnaby. Info and links below.
The BCRU has confirmed that the Burnaby Rugby Club will host the 2024 BC club finals on May 4th. There will be 8 championships decided from Premier down to Division 3. Ticket prices are listed at $20 at the venue, or $15 pre-event online.
A top MLR team vs an Academy team, it’s a good reminder of the difference in levels. The score was 50-0 at the half so the Pride can be credited with adapting a bit and making the second half 29-7. The Pride are always a level below their top form when the spring season begins and they bring in new players to replace those picked up by MLR or graduating after the fall season. Last season in February after the break they were beaten 48-10 by UBC.
The BCRU have released the high performance pathways for athletes hoping to take their rugby to the next level. It covers men’s and women’s rugby from U16 up to the senior level, in both XVs and 7s.
The second half of the season recommenced this weekend with the exception of men’s Premier, that will restart next weekend. UBC lost a close game to CWU, 20-13, the game can be viewed here. Also in exhibition play the UVic Jutes defeated the Doug Tate Selects, 27-0, and that match can be viewed here.
The BC Rugby Hall of Fame will return in June 2024 as part of an exciting, revamped awards celebration. More information on this will be released by BC Rugby at a later date.
BC have historically had strong representation at the men’s U19 level. In 2022 they won the national championship but were defeated by the Atlantic team in 2023. They’ll look to put in a strong performance in 2024 and have announced ID camps for January. Greg Clague will be leading the U19 Men’s Program as Head Coach.
The BCRU have announced Mainland/Island U16 Trial Sessions and a U16-U18 Skills Session in Prince George for girls. Darcy Patterson is the coach and she just returned from Australia with the BC U18 girls where they made the cup quarter-finals at the Global Youth Sevens, losing to eventual winners Australia School Girls. In 2024 the U16 girls will head to Florida for the Tropical 7s, the U18 girls will travel again in December for the Global Youth Sevens.
The Australian School Girls won their home tournament with a 27-12 win over the NZ based Rugby Vault team. The BC U18 team lost to the Australian School Girls in the quarter-finals on Day 2, 29-0. The girls division didn’t have a Plate category unlike the boys division, even though there were more girls teams entered.