Updates on BC Club U18 and U16 Leagues Plus BCRU Announces U20 Elite Men’s Development Pathway
Today’s article was going to be on the BC club youth competitions taking place this fall, getting caught up on the standings but the BCRU put out a media release this morning that dovetails nicely with that and provides a pathway for players in those competitions. The BCRU release is below but first we’ll catch up on what’s happening at the U16 and U18 club competitions.
There are three more rounds of play in the league before the playoffs start. In the U18 Boys competition it has traditionally been Ravens v CW in the final, this year on the Mainland it has been Bayside and Abbotsford dominating, boths clubs are undefeated while the Ravens are 2-2 so far. On the Island it’s CW as usual at the top undefeated with Salish (Shawnigan) and Cowichan in close pursuit. In U16 Boys it’s Bayside and Capilano undefeated to date on the Mainland and on the Island no clear leader with four teams tied at 3-1, CW, Cowichan, JBAA, Salish. Last year it was Capilano and CW in the U16 final.
In the U18 Girls competition Kamloops and Abbotsford are undefeated on the Mainland, and on the Island there are no standings listed on PlayHQ. Comox (Rapids) have three 20-0 wins recorded which indicates there’s some problems going on with the U18 Island Girls competition. Comox have traditionally been strong in the Island Girls competitions, although last year it was JBAA vs Abbotsford at both the U18 and U16 levels. At the U16 level it’s Abbotsford leading the way at 3-0 on the Mainland and Westshore leading on the Island at 3-0.
Now on to the BCRU announcement which is aimed at Elite U20 Men’s Development. The initiative seems to be led by Curry Hitchborn the BC Bears men’s U19 coach and worked out in collaboration with Christiaan Esterhuizen, the Canada men’s U20 coach. There will be three development camps this season, the one in November is open for registration (see link below), with camps coming up in February and March. There’s promise of four-team U20 competition in 2027-28. They have some initial funding set up and have a Fund set up at the Canadian Rugby Foundation for those wishing to support the program with a tax deductible donation.
from BCRU
BC Rugby is delighted to announce registration is open for upcoming BC Identification and Development Sessions, as part of a new Elite U20 Men’s Development Pathway created to provide a structured route for British Columbia’s top emerging male athletes to national identification.
Designed to bridge the gap between U19 Rugby, University and U23 Rugby, BC Rugby Men’s Premier League competition and Rugby Canada’s U20 Men’s Program, this new initiative will bring together the province’s strongest emerging athletes aged 17–20 in a high-performance environment focused on identification, development and progression.
The long-term vision is to build a sustainable U20 pathway that prepares BC athletes for national-level opportunities and, ultimately, contributes to Canada’s ambitions ahead of the 2031 Rugby World Cup.
A COHESIVE PATHWAY
The inaugural year of this initiative will focus on establishing a strong foundation for the program, including athlete identification, coach collaboration and a sustainable operating structure.
Coaches will identify and bring together leading BC-based U20 athletes, including eligible Canadian athletes studying or residing in the province, through a framework aligned with Rugby Canada U20 priorities.
Three U20 Men’s Development Camps will take place in November 2026, February 2027 and March 2027. These sessions will be led by Rugby Canada U20 Coaches and BC Bears U19 Head Coach Curry Hitchborn.
Rugby Canada U20 Men’s Head Coach Christiaan Esterhuizen said: “At the U20 level, time with players is always limited. A national squad only comes together for a few weeks a year, and the jump to international rugby is significant. The players who handle it best are those who’ve been training to a high standard in between and have been tested in tough, competitive games more often. With this initiative, our pathway players get more contact time with coaches who understand what the national program is looking for and more opportunities to play against the best players around them. Players who come through an environment like this arrive at a national camp better prepared and more accustomed to the required level. It’s a strong step for player development, and credit goes to BC Rugby for putting it together.”
BC Bears U19 Men’s Head Coach Curry Hitchborn said: “This is a tremendous opportunity for BC Rugby and Rugby Canada to create more visibility, alignment and awareness for emerging athletes. We want these guys playing best-on-best as often as possible and the overreaching aims of this current plan will do just that. There are a lot of excellent players and uncut gems within the Province and the same goes for coaching so dovetailing the two together is a logical and practical solution. This has been a long time coming and the benefits in year one will surely show that.”
The program aims to strengthen connections between BC Rugby, Rugby Canada U20, Regional Programs and University Coaches. By aligning standards and sharing national-level technical, tactical and positional priorities, the initiative will create a more connected environment for U20 male athletes across the province.
These foundational steps will pave the way for a four-team U20 best-on-best competition in 2027/28, providing further opportunities for BC’s leading young players to test themselves and progress towards the next level with selection for the National U20 Program and ultimately with the 2031 Rugby World Cup in mind.
REGISTER NOW FOR DEVELOPMENT CAMPS
There will be three ID & Development Camps working with BC and Rugby Canada U20 Coaches. Eligible male athletes (birth years 2007, 2008, 2009) can now register for the upcoming single-day ID & Development Camp on November 22, 2026 in Coquitlam.
Two further two-day ID & Development Camps will take place on February 13-14 and March 13-14 weekends in 2027 – details will be confirmed by BC Rugby closer to the time.
November 22, 2026 – Maple Creek Middle School, Coquitlam – 10:00am-4:00pm
February 13-14, 2027 – Location and Times TBD
March 13-14, 2027 – Location and Times TBD
SUPPORT THE PATHWAY – A NEW ENDOWMENT FUND
Supporting this initiative is the launch of the BC Elite U20 Development Endowment Fund, kickstarted through generous contributions by two BC Rugby Alumni Randy Heward and Kevin Mahon, and matched by the Canadian Rugby Foundation.
You can support the future of U20 Men’s Rugby by making a one-time donation or setting up a recurring monthly contribution to the BC Elite U20 Development Endowment Fund. Every donation helps build a stronger, more accessible pathway for the next generation of talent.
Donations can be made here.