The BC Rugby Provincial Regional Championships have long been a proving ground for players looking to make the leap to provincial and national rep rugby. A few years ago Nathan Hirayama, now a fully-capped senior international, competed in the regional competition and remembers it as a crucial stage in his development. Hirayama has since become one of Canada's top fly halves and is in the running to again represent his country at the Rugby World Cup this September in New Zealand.Nathan Hirayama's PRCs reflection:I played in the PRCs at both the Under-16 and Under-18 levels for four years.
What I liked about the tournament is that the team atmosphere is stronger than other rep competitions because the guys you play with are usually from the same area as you. It also allows the players to have more competitive games than they would with club or school rugby.
I remember being exposed to a higher level of rugby than what I was used to, and I know it improved my game.
A lot of the guys I played with and against in the PRC tournaments now play at the senior national level for either the 7s or 15s teams.
Ryan Hamilton (Canada Sr 15s and U20), Sean White (Canada 15s, 7s, U20s), Matt Evans (Canada 15s, 7s, U29s), Harry Jones (Canada 7s and U20s), Sean Duke (Canada 15s and 7s), Thyssen De Goede (Canada 7s and U20s) and Conor Trainor (Canada 15s, 7s and U20s) to name a few.
Provincial and National coaches recognize that it is a great place for players to put their skills on display, and I'm sure they will be out there taking into consideration how players perform and will be referring to this tournament when selection for their teams come around.
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Provincial Regional ChampionshipsOne of North America's largest regional youth rugby tournaments will take place this weekend at the University of British Columbia when the BC Rugby Provincial Regional Championships kick off on Friday, July 8th. In a jam-packed three day schedule, the tournament will feature 51 games with over 400 age grade players divided into 19 regional teams.
PRCs Day 1 Schedule - Friday, July 8th11:00am (U18 Women) Vancouver vs Cariboo
12:15pm (U16 Men) West Vancouver vs Thompson Okanagan
12:15pm (U16 Men) Vancouver North vs Fraser Valley Central
12:15pm (U16 Men) Fraser Valley West vs Vancouver East
1:10pm (U18 Men) Vancouver vs Thompson Okanagan Kamloops
1:10pm (U18 Men) Fraser Valley vs Vancouver Island North
1:10pm (U18 Men) Thompson Okanagan Kelowna vs Vancouer Island South
2:00pm (U18 Women) Vancouver Island vs Fraser Valley
3:15pm (U16 Men) Vancouver Island North vs Fraser Valley Central
3:15pm (U16 Men) Vancouver Island South vs Thompson Okanagan
3:15pm (U16 Men) Fraser Valley East vs Vancouver East
4:05pm (U18 Men) Vancouver vs Thompson Okanagan Kelowna
4:05pm (U18 Men) Fraser Valley vs Vancouver Island South
4:05pm (U18 Men) Vancouver Island North vs Thompson Okanagan Kamloops
5:00pm (U16 Men) Vancouver North vs Vancouver Island North
5:00pm (U16 Men) Vancouver Island South vs Vancouver West
5:00pm (U16 Men) Fraser Valley West vs Fraser Valley East
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