1954 NZ All Blacks Tour to BC
1954 Tour Program – NZ All Blacks Visit BC for Matches vs Victoria, UBC, Mainland After 31 Games in UK, Ireland, France
In March 1954 the NZ All Blacks wrapped up a gruelling 36 match tour of the UK, Ireland, France and North America. By the time they reached BC they had played 31 matches and had 5 more to go, 3 of them in BC and 2 in California. They won the matches in BC handily, 39-3 against Victoria, 42-3 against UBC and 37-11 against the Mainland.
BC Rugby Weekend of May 9th 2026
BC Premier Final Results: Men’s Premier Ravens Grind Down UVic; Women’s Premier Thunderbirds Defeat Westshore – Rowers Men’s Div 1 Champs, Capilano Women’s Div 1, Kelowna Men’s Div 2, Kelowna Women’s Div 2, Burnaby Men’s Div 3
The BC Premier games went as expected with the Ravens claiming their 3rd men’s title and the Thunderbirds their 5th women’s title. Both teams reaching dynasty level in the current time period. Rowers and Capilano won the men’s and women’s Div 1 titles respectively. Kelowna owned Div 2 winning both men’s and women’s. Burnaby won the Div 3 title.
Men’s Premier – Ravens 30 v UVic 3
Women’s Premier – Thunderbirds 38 v Westshore 17
Men’s Division 1 – Rowers 29 v Capilano 20
Women’s Division 1 – Capilano 44 v Kamloops 7
Men’s Division 2 – Kelowna 21 v Kamloops 15
Women’s Division 2 – Kelowna 28 v Chilliwack 12
Men’s Division 3 – Burnaby 43 v Rowers 10
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Meehan Names Match 23 to Host Zimbabwe in Winnipeg: Coats and Rumball Return to Roster
BC Rugby Announce U19 and U17 Teams Travelling to Ontario for National Championships
Canada v Portugal – July 2026
Canada Leak Four Tries in Thirteen Minutes in 38-14 Loss to Portugal
Canada scored first and last but Portugal scored 38 unanswered points in between. Canada were in the game at the half, down 12-7 but they fell asleep in the 3rd quarter as Portugal scored four tries between 42′ and 55′ and the game went from 12-7 to 38-7, from a competitive match to a blowout in 13 minutes. For the second week in a row the Canadian backline was a defensive liability, all Portugal’s tries were scored by the backs, two from the inside centre, two from the wing, one from the outside centre and one from the scrum half. Canada were missing their two top players Tyler Ardron and Lucas Rumball and it showed, coach Meehan’s record is now 1-1-9 and without Tyler Ardron in the lineup it’s 0-9.
Battle of the Border 2026
Seattle Rugby Challenges UBCOB Ravens to Battle of the Border on September 12th : $5000 Prize Money
This is an interesting way to start off the season for both Seattle and the UBCOB Ravens. Seattle, who used to play in the BC Premier, made it to the USA national club finals in the spring, just losing to New York in the final match. The Ravens are defending BC Premier champions. Seattle laid down the challenge and there’s even a $5,000 prize award for the winner, we assume that’s in USD. The match takes place in the US but just across the border at the Chuckanut Bay Rugby Club. It’s only 10 km across the border as the crow flies, or should I say as the raven flies. It’s about a 30 minute drive, depending on border conditions, from the nearest Canadian club which would by Bayside.
Pacific Nations Cup 2026
Canada Men’s XVs Add Two September Tests in Japan Against Fiji and Either USA or Japan
The Pacific Nations Cup will run as an abbreviated tournament in 2026. Only four teams will participate Canada, USA, Fiji, Japan. In 2025 it was part of the World Cup qualifying and included Tonga and Samoa as well. Canada will play Fiji on September 12th then either Japan or USA on September 19th. Based on previous results it will probably be a Canada v USA match on the 19th. The sponsor is a Japanese beer company so it makes sense they’re hosting the tournament and after Fiji won the last two titles, it will likely be a Fiji v Japan final that the hosts are anticipating with the potential of a Japanese upset victory over Fiji. Currently the world rankings of the four countries are Fiji 9th, Japan 12th, USA 14th, Canada 23rd.
Provincial Regional Championships (PRCs) 2026
Vancouver Island Tide Win U19 Men’s and Women’s Titles, U17 Girls and Overall Title; Valley Claim U17 Boys and U15 Girls Titles; Vancouver Win U15 Boys Title
The Island Tide won both the men’s and women’s U19 titles at the Provincial Regional Championships. The women defeated Fraser Valley 23-17, the match was 18-17 in the Tide’s favour at the half and they added one more try in the second half. It was another Island vs Valley final in the men’s competition. The Island led 14-7 at the half and ran out 33-12 winners in the end. The Island claimed the overall PRC title with three 1st place finishes and three second place finishes. Valley were 2nd overall, Vancouver 3rd, Interior 4th.
Canada v Spain – July 2026
Canada Draws with Spain 42-42: Last Minute Heroics to Claim 3 Points
It was a match of ups and downs. The highlight for Canada was the come from behind equalizer with time expired. That showed some character to put together multiple phases with no allowance for error. Noah Flesch ended up being the hero as he picked the ball up from the base of the ruck and decided to go himself, getting one of the few line breaks for Canada in the match. From there it went quickly to the outside where Tyler Ardron made the key pass to set Kyle Tremblay across the line. Takoda McMullin showed nerves of steel to take the conversion as Cooper Coats had been injured on the play. Noah may have been the last minute hero but it was his brother Mason who was selected player of the match with two tries.
BC Premier 2026-27
Rowers and Bayside Announce Entry into 2026-27 BC Premier – Eleven Team League in 2026-27
The Vancouver Rowing Club and the Bayside Sharks have announced their acceptance into the BC Premier league for the 2026-27 season. It looks to be an 11 team league next year, Langley, long reported to be eyeing a jump up to the Premier have apparently withdrawn their application for promotion. With the Pacific Pride not entering a team next year (the status of the program is unknown) the league will consist of the nine teams from last season plus the two new teams. Both clubs, Bayside and Rowers, have a history in the BC Premier and are returning after a rebuilding phase in Division 1.
Canada Nations Cup Squad – Summer 2026
Meehan Announces 32 Player Squad for Summer Nations Cup Matches: Tyler Ardron, Evan Olmstead and Cooper Coats All Available – Updates
UPDATES: Rob Povey out with injury, Lockie Kratz brought in as a replacement. Daragh Doyle U20 lock also brought in. Rob Povey has been ruled out due to injury which leaves Cooper Coats and Peter Nelson as #10 starting options in game #1 against Spain. Daragh Doyle was a late addition, he played second row for the U20 team last year.
Stephen Meehan has named his 32 player squad for the summer Nations Cup matches against Spain, Portugal and Zimbabwe. The good news is the trio of Evan Olmstead, Tyler Ardron and Cooper Coats, who were instrumental in Canada’s only win under Meehan, are available. All three have been missing from the Canada roster recently. Also good news is the return of Andrew Quattrin. There are a number of players missing from Meehan’s recent selections, Callum Botchar, Emerson Prior, Austin Creighton, James Naylor who were part of the November 2025 rosters didn’t get a mention in the injured/unavailable list. Botchar had earned a starting role with the Seattle Seawolves and Prior was outstanding in the BC v Ontario series. Brock Webster who has been outstanding with MLR champions Chicago Hounds has been marked unavailable/injured.
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