UVic in Portugal, BCRU Clamps Down on Player Eligibility, BC High School Player Starts Petition to Play Rugby This Season
A few items on the Editor’s desk this morning, UVic Vikes men’s team are in Portugal and they’ve won their first two matches. The BCRU has updated the penalties for infractions of the Player Eligibility Rules. There’s a high school player who has started a Petition to persuade BC School Sports to allow him to play rugby this season.
UVic in Portugal
UVic are in Portugal this week, they’ve already played two games and won both. They played Escola Rugby do Porto on the 15th and Belenenses on the 18th. Both match videos are linked below from their YouTube channel. Kudos to them for bringing their own streaming and commentary team. You can get the match rosters off their Instagram channel.
UVic vs Escola Rugby do Porto – Feb 15, 2026
UVic vs Belenenses – Feb 18, 2026
BCRU Update Rules of Competition
BCRU have updated the Rules of Competition, specifically Section 7.3 which deals with Sanctions & Fines on Player Eligibility. Comparing the new and old wording shows the BCRU are coming down hard on infringements on Player Eligibility, it used to be a written warning on 1st offence, now the infringing team lose the game.
Please see below an important update to the BC Rugby Senior Rules of Competition regarding section 7.3 – Player Eligibility.
Old Wording
7.3 Player Eligibility
The following fines will be applied to the relevant Club and point deductions for the relevant Team for any infraction of Player Eligibility Rules, as detailed in Section 4, in a BC Rugby sanctioned Competition or Match. For infractions relating to section 4.1 the sanctions (fine and point deductions) will be automatically doubled.
For infractions relating to Sections 4.3 (f), (g), (h) and (i), the relevant Match will be recorded as a default with the infringing Team treated as the defaulting Team, even for a first offence, in addition to the following sanctions:
a) First offence (regular season only) – a written warning shall be issued.
b) Second offence (first playoff offence) – the Club shall be fined CAD$200 and the Team shall be deducted four-points from the league or pool table
New Wording
7.3 Player Eligibility
The following fines will be applied to the relevant Club and point deductions for the relevant Team for any infraction of Player Eligibility Rules, as detailed in Section 4, in a BC Rugby sanctioned Competition or Match. For infractions relating to section 4.1 the sanctions (fine and point deductions) will be automatically doubled.
a) First offence (regular season only) – the match will be recorded as a conceded win with the infringing team the losing team
b) Second offence (first playoff offence) – the Club shall be fined CAD$200 and the Team shall be deducted four-points from the league or pool table
The BC Rugby Board of Directors passed the motion by unanimous consent with all Members voting in favour.
The decision is effective as of today, Wednesday February 18, 2026.
BC High School Player Starts Petition to Play Rugby
A GW Graham high school player has started a petition to convince BC School Sports to allow him to play rugby this season. The text from the petition is below, you can go to this link to sign the petition.
The Issue
In my late teens, life felt like a mountain too steep to climb. Weighing 360 lbs, I was caught in a cycle of drifting in and out of school, feeling disconnected and struggling. My future looked bleak, and dark thoughts clouded my mind. However, everything changed when I found rugby. This sport became my lifeline. It pulled me back from the brink and gave me hope, energy, and a new sense of purpose.
As someone with autism, rugby has not only helped me build physical strength but has also been vital for my mental and emotional well-being. Through this team sport, I have formed meaningful relationships, learned discipline, and developed a desire to achieve more in life, both on and off the field.
Unfortunately, due to circumstances beyond my control, I had to leave the country for seven months, which meant repeating a year of high school. Despite this, I am now being barred from playing in my final year of high school rugby because of a ruling by BC School Sports.
This decision has dealt a heavy blow to my journey of personal recovery and growth. For someone who has turned their life around thanks to the power of sports, not being able to play in my last semester would be devastating.
The joy and sense of accomplishment I get from rugby are irreplaceable, and losing this opportunity threatens my development. My aim is not just to play a sport; it’s about finishing a chapter of my life filled with learning and transformation.
I urge the authorities at BC School Sports to reconsider their ruling on my case. Letting me play in my final semester would show compassion and understanding of individual life challenges. This chance to participate in rugby is not simply a privilege; it is a critical part of my path to success and health.
Please lend your voice to support my cause, urging BC School Sports to change their decision and let me play. Together, we can make a difference not only for me but for others who might be facing similar struggles. Sign this petition today and help impact young lives that truly need it.
In my opinion it is clearly it is in BCRU’s mandate to at least look into trying to intervene on behalf of the above high school kid:
BCRU Mandate (British Columbia Rugby Union)
The mandate of the British Columbia Rugby Union (BCRU) is to serve as the provincial governing body for the sport of rugby union in British Columbia. Its core responsibilities include:
1. Governance and Regulation
Act as the recognized authority for rugby union in BC.
Establish and enforce rules, policies, and standards consistent with Rugby Canada and World Rugby. [en.wikipedia.org]
2. Development of the Sport
Grow and develop rugby at all levels (youth, community, club, high performance).
Provide coach, referee, and player development pathways across the province. [bcrugby.com]
3. Competitions and High Performance
Organize and oversee provincial leagues and championships, including the BC Premier League and women’s premier competitions.
Manage provincial representative teams that compete in national championships. [en.wikipedia.org]
4. Safety, Integrity, and Inclusion
Promote player safety, injury prevention, and fair play.
Foster a rugby environment that is inclusive, respectful, and accessible to participants of all backgrounds. [bcrugby.com]
5. Alignment and Representation
Act as the formal link between BC rugby clubs and Rugby Canada.
Represent BC’s interests in national rugby governance and policy discussions. [en.wikipedia.org]
In short
The BCRU’s mandate is to govern, grow, and safeguard rugby in British Columbia, while developing players, officials, and competitions from grassroots participation to elite performance.
BCSS is responsible for setting rules for High School Rugby.
BCRU does not govern High School Rugby.
I do support this athlete’s right to play.
HH Jono
What was the eligibility issue, not clear in the above article? I am assuming the missed year of school, means an age eligibility issue? If that is the case, is there a concern the physical size presents a safety issue?
I understand BCRU does not govern High School Rugby, however if one of the BCRU mandate is to the developement and inclusion of individual who want to play, it would be nice to at least enquire about the situation. Show some leadership and work with the high school, is that not what we want to get to the grass roots to grow this game? I know it takes time and effort to spear head this. Again it not about thinking in the box but outside, in order for Rugby to grow there has to be a paridgm shift in thinking. We can put a man on the moon and we have AI now. I believe that if we can all put our collective heads togather, an aceptable solution can be reached.
BCRU Clamps Down on Player Eligibility….this is a masterful misallocation of time and effort by the BCRU.
The BCRU seems more obsessed with policing, tightening screws, escalating penalties, and obsessing over player eligibility enforcement and constant rule changes every year, while completely ignoring the reality on the ground. This is amateur rugby.
How exactly do harsher penalties for eligibility infractions grow the game?
How does this support player development, club sustainability, or retention?
How does this help an ecosystem already struggling with participation numbers, volunteer acqusition, and limited resources?
Instead, the message being sent is clear: punishment first.
Clubs in this league are run by unpaid volunteers: administrators, managers, and background staff giving up evenings and weekends just to keep teams alive. Treating them as if they’re operating professional compliance departments is not just out of touch, it’s counterproductive.
If this is where the BCRU’s priorities lie, stricter rules, harsher sanctions, and more policing in an amateur environment then it’s easy to see why progress feels limited. Growing the game requires investment, support, and development pathways, not an enforcement-first mindset better suited to fully professional unions.
But sure, let’s make strict penalties the top priority. That’ll definitely grow the game.
To Disillusion-parent,
Great comments, BCRU needs to get involved, they have got to do much much more better.
BCRU EXECUTIVES it’s time to show up and be more involved at the grassroots level.