Vernon Jackals Win Men’s XVs, Yeti Rugby Club Claim Women’s 7s at 2025 Saratoga Cup Tournament
The home side Yeti Rugby were dominant in the women’s 7s competition, outscoring opponents 175 to 22, and claimed the 2025 women’s title. The men’s XVs competition was a lot closer with Vernon winning the final by one point over the Terrace team.
from BCRU
Vernon Jackals RFC and Yeti Rugby Club enjoyed Championship success at the 2025 Saratoga Cup presented by Hideaway Public House hosted in Salmon Arm, with both trophies set to stay in the Okanagan region this year.
The Jackals secured its first Men’s Saratoga Cup title with a thrilling 20-19 win over defending champions Terrace Northmen RFC in Sunday’s final, while Yeti Rugby Club lifted its first ever Women’s Saratoga Cup Championship with a 28-10 win over the Rocky Mountain Rogues.
This year’s Saratoga Cup presented by Hideaway Public House saw our biggest competition to date, and featured 10 teams from seven Clubs battling it out in the sizzling heat at Little Mountain Fields.
The year’s edition also saw Trail RFC make its Saratoga Cup debut in the Women’s competition, finishing third overall – a testament to the growth of Rugby in the Kootenays region. The weekend featured a Try Rugby session, hosted in partnership with Yeti Rugby Club, on Saturday morning to officially kick off the event.
BC Rugby would like to thank all athletes, Coaches, Officials, Managers, staff, therapists and volunteers from Yeti Rugby Club, Rocky Mountain Rogues, Terrace Northmen RFC, Vernon Jackals RFC, Elk Valley RFC, Penticton Harlequins RFC, and Trail RFC. Thank you to Yeti Rugby Club for hosting this special event.
Below is a recap for this past weekend’s action. We will be releasing a 2025 Saratoga Cup Photo Gallery this week. Due to poor signal, we were unable to livestream all matches but will be uploading all game videos on our YouTube channel this week.
Finally, BC Rugby wishes to thank our Saratoga Cup event sponsors, Hideaway Public House, for a fantastic weekend of Championship Rugby and Team Socials.
2025 MEN’S SARATOGA CUP RECAP
Vernon Jackals RFC celebrated an incredible Saratoga Cup presented by Hideaway Public House victory with an intense 20-19 victory over defending champions Terrace Northmen RFC.
With the scores locked at 5-5 in the first half, the Jackals took control and led 15-5 heading into the business end of the second half. However, the Northmen scored two converted tries to lead 19-15 inside the final four minutes.
But in a final, fitting twist to an end-to-end match, the Jackals scored in the dying moments to secure victory and keep the Saratoga Cup in the Okanagan.
Rocky Mountain Rogues claimed third place with a 34-17 win over Yeti Rugby Club in a fascinating 3rd-Place Play-Off encounter. With both sides showing astute attacking play, the crowed was treated to a thrilling encounter that ended in the Rogues’ favour.
Saturday’s Semi-Finals saw a scintillating performance from Vernon Jackals as the Okanagan Champions defeated Rocky Mountain Rogues, three-peat Saratoga Cup winners from 2021-2023, 27-0 for a memorable shutout victory.
Terrace Northmen RFC faced a spirited host side in the Yeti Rugby Club, as both teams played out a cagey affair. The Northmen displayed defensive grit and composure to hold off Yeti for a 12-5 win and a place in Sunday’s final.
MEN’S SARATOGA CUP RESULTS
Semi-Finals
Rocky Mountain Rogues 0-27 Vernon Jackals RFC
Terrace RFC 12-5 Yeti Rugby Club
3rd Place Play-Off
Yeti Rugby Club 17-34 Rocky Mountain Rogues
Final
Terrace Northmen RFC 19-20 Vernon Rugby Club
2025 WOMEN’S SARATOGA CUP RECAP
Yeti Rugby Club lifted a maiden Women’s Saratoga Cup Championship with an impressive showing on home soil that culminated in a 28-10 Championship win over runners-up Rocky Mountain Rogues.
The Rogues had to settle for silver for the second successive year, with Trail RFC taking third place in its debut Saratoga Cup appearance thanks to a hard-fought 12-7 win against their Kootenay rivals Elk Valley RFC.
With Elk Valley RFC completing the top four, the defending champions Terrace RFC finished fifth with a 17-12 win over Penticton Harlequins.
In the Women’s Round Robin competition, Yeti Rugby Club kicked off proceedings with a 50-0 win over Penticton Harlequins.
The Women’s Saratoga Cup competition kicked off with a host of Round Robin matches on the Saturday – results can be found below.
WOMEN’S SARATOGA CUP RESULTS
Round Robin Matches
Yeti Rugby Club 50-0 Penticton Harlequins
Terrace RFC 12-34 Yeti Rugby Club
Trail RFC 17-10 Elk Valley RFC
Rocky Mountain Rogues 32-7 Terrace RFC
Elk Valley RFC 39-0 Penticton Harlequins
Trail RFC 12-24 Rocky Mountain Rogues
Yeti Rugby Club 24-0 Trail RFC
Elk Valley RFC 12-27 Rocky Mountain Rogues
Yeti Rugby Club 39-0 Rocky Mountain Rogues
5th Place-Play Off
Terrace Northmen RFC 17-12 Penticton Harlequins
3rd Place Play-Off
Trail RFC 12-7 Elk Valley RFC
Final
Yeti Rugby Club 28-10 Rocky Mountain Rogues
Saratoga Cup Scheduled for Salmon Arm August 9th and 10th: Four Men’s XVs Teams & Six Women’s 7s Teams Vie for Titles
The Saratoga Cup has evolved over the years, originally a men’s XVs competition among single team clubs across the province, it’s now a competition for Interior clubs including the Okanagan and Kootenay regions and includes men’s XVs and women’s 7s.
This year it’s being hosted in Salmon Arm by the Yeti Rugby Club, there’s a large social component to the tournament and that side of things is being hosted by the sponsor Hideaway Public House.
We went through our archives and appended the 2009 to 2013 Saratoga Cup articles for some history.
from BCRU
The line-up for the 2025 Saratoga Cup presented by Hideaway Public House has been confirmed following the conclusion of the BC Rugby’s Central Interior, Okanagan and Kootenay Cup Divisions.
2025 has seen yet another action-packed summer Rugby season across BC’s Northern and Interior regions, with the continued growth of Women’s Rugby and junior programming as well as a positive year for new club, Trail RFC.
BC Rugby is delighted to confirm the four Men’s and six Women’s teams that will compete for the 2025 Saratoga Cup and 2025 Women’s Saratoga Cup presented by Hideaway Public House on August 9-10 in Salmon Arm, home of the Yeti Rugby Club.
Men’s Saratoga Cup
Yeti Rugby Club (Hosts/Okanagan Division Runners-Up)
Vernon Jackals RFC (Okanagan Division Winners)
Terrace Northmen RFC (Central Interior Division Winners)
Rocky Mountain Rogues (Kootenays Division Winners)
In the Men’s XVs Competition, hosts Yeti Rugby Club will be joined by defending champions Terrace Northmen RFC who topped the Central Interior Division following their Championship win in 2024. The Rocky Mountain Rogues, who enjoyed three successive Saratoga Cup wins from 2021-2023, will be looking to regain the crown as Kootenay Cup Winners. Vernon Jackals, fresh from winning the Okanagan Division, are enjoying a resurgence and will pose a tough threat in this year’s competition.
Women’s Saratoga Cup
Yeti Rugby Club
Terrace Northmen RFC
Penticton Harlequins
Trail RFC
Elk Valley RFC
Rocky Mountain Rogues
This year’s Women’s Saratoga Cup 7s competition will see six teams compete for glory! Hosts Yeti Rugby Club will feature alongside the defending champions, Terrace Northmen RFC, who celebrated the 2024 Championship victory on home soil last year. Penticton Harlequins will compete for the second successive year, while we welcome three teams from the Kootenays region: newcomers Trail RFC will make its Women’s Saratoga Cup debut alongside Rocky Mountain Rogues and Elk Valley RFC!
From the BCRN Archives – Saratoga Cup 2009 to 2013
Elk Valley RFC Win 2013 Saratoga Cup
posted Sept 24 2013
Not bad for a club that just started 6 months ago. The Saratoga Cup is a BC wide competition for smaller clubs in the province, it’s only open to clubs that have one team. Representatives from the four regions: Northern BC, Vancouver/Vancouver Island, Kootenays and Okanagan get together one weekend in September to decide the champion. While rugby is just starting in the leagues surrounding Vancouver and Vancouver Island on the Pacific coast, it’s wrapping up in the interior regions of BC where snow will soon be accumulating.
This year it was contested by the Brit-Lions (Vancouver), Elk Valley (Kootenays), Manthers (Okanagan) and Williams Lake (Northern BC)
Saturday, September 21st:
SEMIFINALS: no.1 Manthers 7 – 23 no.4 Elk Valley RFC
SEMIFINALS: no.2 Brit Lions 13 – 10 no.3 Williams Lake RFC
Sunday, September 22nd:
CONSOLATION FINAL Manthers 17 – 27 Williams Lake
FINAL Brit Lions 10 – 26 Elk Valley
The following is from the Elk Valley facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/ElkValleyRfc)
Our local rugby team, Elk Valley R.F.C. beat the Brit Lions (formerly known as Ex-Brits in Vancouver) in the final by a score of 26-10 to lock up the Saratoga Cup.
This is hugely significant for two reasons… 1) This marks the first time the Cup has been brought back to the Kootenays since the inception of the multi-union (regional zones) final back in 1974… and, 2) The Elk Valley team (the Bulls) literally started this club from nothing six short months ago. This speaks volumes about the level of talent here in the valley, and the commitment the players (and support of) have shown. Many thanks to Dan Parker (club Pres.) and Pete Dudman (Capt.) without whom this team would have never been realised.
Previous winners of this prestigious event are notables such as: Meralomas; Kats; Ex-Brits; Vancouver Rowing Club; Capilanos and the Penticton Harlequins (2012 champs).
We would also like to thank our sponsors for their generous patronage: Teck Resources; Maxam; Rayco Steel; Mow and Snow; and Bear’s Paw… it is with their support that we were able to provide a resounding answer to the much asked question this past weekend… “Where the hell is the Elk Valley?”
Penticton Harlequins Win 2012 Saratoga Cup Title with Win Over Brit-Lions
from the Penticton Herald
posted Sept 18 2012
[ed. the Saratoga Cup is contested by teams in the British Columbia Rugby Union that only have one men’s club side.]
Penticton Harlequins’ captain Brad Martin was all smiles Sunday after accepting B.C. Rugby Union’s Saratoga Cup.
For the first time in the Penticton Harlequins’ history, their name will be inscribed on the Saratoga Cup.
Penticton won the B.C. Rugby Union third division championship, downing the Brit Lions from the Lower Mainland 26-10 in Sunday’s final at the McNicoll Park field.
After a strong start to Sunday game by the Brit Lions, Penticton slowly took over. A brilliant open field run for a try by Brandon Messier broke the game open in the second half.
Harlequins’ captain Brad Martin, who has played on the team for almost 20 years, said winning the provincial Saratoga Cup was especially gratifying.
“I don’t know if we’ve ever held this particular championship, so we’re very proud to be the first group to ever do that,” he said.
Martin noted the Lions gave the Harlequins all they could handle early on in the contest, but Penticton managed to stick with their game plan for what he described as a hard-fought victory.
“It’s definitely a team game. Individuals can make very little difference. You really have to rely on your teammates and trust they’re going to do the job that they need to,” he said.
This marked the fourth year in a row that the Saratoga Cup has been held in Penticton. Martin noted to win the championship at home was a bonus.
“To have a lot of friends and family and camaraderie around here, it’s been great,” he said.
The Saratoga Cup is contested for annually by teams in the British Columbia Rugby Union that only have one men’s club side. Penticton earned the right to represent the Okanagan region by downing Merritt for the league championship earlier this summer.
Also participating in the weekend playoffs were the Rocky Mountain Rogues from the Kootenay region and the Williams Lake Rustlers, representing the Northern B.C. region.
2011 Saratoga Cup Tournament Includes Williams Lake, Kats, Vernon and Trail
from Andrew Smith – BCRU
posted Sept 29 2011
Penticton, BC: The Trail Colonials, Williams Lake Rustlers, Kats RFC and Vernon Jackals will battle for the coveted Saratoga Cup this weekend in Penticton.
The provincial championship is contested for annually by teams in the British Columbia Rugby Union that only have one club side.
The current title holders Prince George Gnats RFC did not qualify for the 2011 championship and the Northern BC region will instead be represented by the Williams Lake Rustlers. The Rustlers face Okanagan Rugby Union qualifiers Vernon on Saturday in the semifinals at 3:00pm.
The 1:00pm semifinal pits the Kats out of Vancouver against Kootenays qualifier Trail Colonials RFC. The Kats last lifted the Saratoga Cup in 2009 after defeating the “World Famous” Penticton Harlequins 36-17.
All matches will be played at the McNicol Rugby Oval in Penticton.
Saturday, Oct. 1st – McNicol Rugby Oval
1:00pm – SEMI FINAL Kats RFC vs Trail
3:00pm – SEMI FINAL Williams Lake vs Vernon
Sunday, Oct. 2nd – McNicol Rugby Oval
10:00am – Third place 2011 Saratoga Cup Consolation Final
12:00pm – Saratoga Cup Championship
Prince George takes home the 2010 Saratoga Cup
BCRU Press Release
posted Sept 28 2010
Penticton, BC – This past weekend the four qualifiers for the 2010 Saratoga Cup traveled to Penticton for two days of fixtures which would lead to a provincial title match.
The Saratoga Cup is the provincial championship for men’s teams competing in BC Rugby leagues that only have one team in the club. For the last two years the Saratoga Cup has been hosted in Penticton and featured the four regional champions from the Kootenay Rugby Union (Rocky Mountain Rogues RFC out of Cranbrook in 2009 and 2010); Northern BC (Prince George Gnats RFC in 2010 and Williams Lake in 2009); Lower Mainland / Vancouver Island (Kats RFC in 2009 and 2010); and the Okanagan League (Vernon RFC in 2010 and Penticton RFC in 2009).
In Saturday’s semi finals it was the Rocky Mountain Rogues RFC pulling off the big win over the 2009 Saratoga Cup champions out of Vancouver – Kats RFC. In the other semi final the always tough Prince George Gnats RFC defeated a feisty side from Vernon.
Vernon and the Kats met in the provincial consolation fixture on Sunday morning. It was Vernon leading 17-12 at the half and despite a valiant effort in the second-half; it was the Kats who poured it on. Lead by a four-try-game by speedster Yuda Shih, the Kats scored 22 unanswered second-half points on their way to a 34-17 victory.
“This was a good recovery from Saturday’s loss,” said the ageless Mark Aplas of the Kats. “We got off to a slow start against Vernon. They were a tough side but we were able to put enough pressure on them over the course of the game for the win.”
The big final kicked-off at 12:00PM and it was obvious from the onset that Prince George and the Rocky Mountain Rogues both had every intention of taking home the Saratoga Cup.
Prince George played a disciplined first half and did not allow the Rogues to put any points on the board. Lead by their savvy veteran Troy McKenzie and the powerful running of Paul Bryant, Prince George was able to orchestrate three impressive runs leading to unconverted tries. The score at the half was 15-0.
The Rocky Mountain Rogues controlled the play for the latter part of the second half and continued to exert pressure on Prince George. Finally, with 10 minutes to go the Rogues were awarded for their efforts with a try under the posts. The conversion was good and it was obvious the Rogues were not going to let up. With 1.5 minutes left in game the Rogues scored again and continued to push until the final whistle. Despite the late game surge, it was the Gnats of Prince George who emerged as the well deserving victors by a score of 15-12. Number-8, Paul Bryant was the man-of-the-match for Prince George and outside-centre Jared MacDonald was the man-of-the-match for the Rogues.
The British Columbia Rugby Union would like to thank the participating teams and especially the gracious hosts from the “World Famous” Penticton Harlequins RFC. BC Rugby would also like to thank the officials for their effort at the Saratoga Cup – in particular allocator David Pue and referees Wes Fitzsimmons (Vernon), Mark Hetherington (Kelowna) and Ken Sommerfeldt (Penticton).
Kats defeat Penticton in 2009 Saratoga Cup Final
BCRU Press Release
posted Sept 23 2009
This past Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th four teams congregated at Penticton’s McNicol Rugby Oval to compete in the Men’s Independent Provincial Tournament – the Saratoga Cup.
On the Saturday it was the hosts from Penticton upsetting the Williams Lake Rustlers while the Kats from Vancouver kept the Rocky Mountain Rogues from Cranbrook off the scoreboard in a solid defensive win.
In the consolation final, it was Williams Lake in a narrow victory over Rocky Mountain RFC by a score of 12-10. In the provincial final and for the right to hoist the Saratoga Cup, the Kats proved too much for Penticton. After controlling the play in the first half, Penticton recovered well in the second half with a few quick tries to make it competitive. In the end the Kats took home the provincial crown by a score of 36-17.
The British Columbia Rugby Union would like to thank all teams for competing, and especially the hosts from Penticton for their tremendous hospitality. In particular, thank you goes out to Marty Godsmark and Chris Hill. Also, thank you to the officials Bob Zyrd and Scott Duncan, and David Pue of the Referee Society.
Penticton to host Saratoga Cup this weekend
posted Sept 18 2009
BCRU Press Release
The Penticton Harlequins RFC will host the 2009 Saratoga Cup this Saturday, September 19th and Sunday, September 20th. The Men’s Independent Provincial Championship tournament features teams from various regions of British Columbia.
The newly formed Kootenay Rugby Union (KRU) will be send their league champions, the Rocky Mountain Rogues RFC, based out of Cranbrook. The always well organized Williams Lake Rustlers assume the second seed in the tournament, while the Kats of Vancouver will go in as the favourites after winning the Independent Lower Mainland / Vancouver Island final in May. Rounding out the competition will be host club, Penticton Harlequins RFC.
The following is the seeding of teams as well as the schedule for the weekend:
S1 = Kats (2009 BC Independent League Champions)
S2 = Williams Lake (2007 Saratoga Cup Champion)
S3 = Penticton RFC (Representing Host Union)
S4 = Rocky Mountain Rogues RFC (KRU is new entry)
Saturday, September 19
1:00 PM = GM1 (Williams Lake vs Penticton)
3:00 PM = GM2 (Kats vs Rocky Mountain Rogues)
Sunday, September 20
10:00 AM = Loser GM1 vs Loser GM2 (Saratoga Cup Consolation Match)
12:00 PM = Winner GM1 vs Winner GM2 (Saratoga Cup Championship)