Vancouver, BC: They came from as far North as Williams Lake and as far West as Port Alberni. In total, over 400 age grade rugby players flocked to UBC's Wolfson Fields to kick off the annual BC Rugby Provincial Regional Championships.
To download full day one results and standings click here.
A total of 17 games were played on day one in the three divisions; Under-18 Women, Under-18 Men and Under-16 Men. The defending champs Vancouver finished on top of the U18 Women's standings with the men's divisions both currently being led by Fraser Valley rep teams.
The tournament is always a strong display of rugby and a great recruiting venue according to BC U16 Provincial Team coach Stephen Rowell who was on hand working with selectors to identify talent for the upcoming National Festival.
"It's just a great opportunity for players in all the regions to come and be seen by selectors at one venue to try and move themselves up in the provincial ranks of their play," said Rowell. "By having nine different regions represented [at the U16 level], this gives more players the opportunity to play, especially the younger ones who are underage in grade nine."
U18 Women
Day one saw the defending Under-18 women's champs Vancouver finish on top of the standings with a 60-0 win over Cariboo, with Fraser Valley close behind in second after a closer 26-7 win over Vancouver Island. Vancouver will now play against Vancouver Island on Saturday, July 9th, and Fraser Valley will scrum down against Cariboo.
Results - Friday, July 8th
Vancouver 60(+1) - 0 Cariboo
Fraser Valley 26(+1) - 7 Vancouver Island
Schedule - Saturday, July 9th
10:40am: Vancouver vs Vancouver Island
1:40pm: Fraser Valley vs Cariboo
U18 Men
A number of Canadian Under-17 National Team members and BC Elite Youth Sevens standouts were on display in the Under-18 division on day one. Fraser Valley, who finished on top of the standings with two bonus point wins boasted a triumvirate of junior national team all-stars in Jorden Best, Quinton Willms and Justin Douglas. In their toughest match of the day, they trumped South Vancouver Island 13-3. Connor Hunter did the bulk of the damage for the Fraser Valley squad, notching a eight points through a conversion and two penalties. Vancouver was the only other squad to go 2-0 on the day and finished second in the standings on point differential.
Results - Friday, July 8th
Vancouver 19(+1) - 7 Thompson Okanagan Kamloops
Fraser Valley 48(+1) - 3 Vancouver Island North
Vancouver Island South 31(+1) - 5 Thompson Okanagan Kelowna
Vancouver 11 - 5(+1) Thompson Okanagan Kelowna
Fraser Valley 13 - 3 Vancouver Island South
Vancouver Island North 7 - 5 Thompson Okanagan Kamloops
Schedule - Saturday, July 9th
9:50am: Vancouver vs Fraser Valley
9:50am: Thompson Okanagan Kelowna vs Thompson Okanagan Kamloops
9:50am: Vancouver Island South vs Vancouver Island North
12:50pm: Thompson Okanagan Kelowna vs Vancouver Island North
12;50pm: Vancouver vs Vancouver Island South
12:50pm: Fraser Valley vs Thompson Okanagan Kamloops
U16 Men
Fraser Valley West was in top form in the Under-16 division, topping the standings with two bonus point wins. Vancouver Island South and Vancouver North are each close behind with nine points in the standings.
A number of competitive games took place on day one, including the tightest match between Vancouver Island North and Fraser Valley Central. The Island squad came out on top, posting a narrow 13-12 victory.
Results - Friday, July 8th
Vancouver North 12 - 5(+1) Fraser Valley Central
Vancouver West 26(+1) - 14 Thompson Okanagan
Fraser Valley West 55(+1) - 7 Vancouver East
Vancouver Island North 13 - 12(+1) Fraser Valley Central
Vancouver Island South 60(+1) - 0 Thompson Okanagan
Fraser Valley East 53(+1) - 0 Vancouver East
Vancouver North 39(+1) - 3 Vancouver Island North
Vancouver Island South 12 - 0 Vancouver West
Fraser Valley West 17(+1) - 7 Fraser Valley East
Schedule - Saturday July 9th
9:50am: Vancouver Island South vs Fraser Valley Central
9:50am: Fraser Valley West vs Thompson Okanagan
9:50am: Vancouver North vs Vancouver East
12:00pm: Fraser Valley East vs Fraser Valley Central
12:00pm: Vancouver Island North vs Thompson Okanagan
12:00pm: Vancouver West vs Vancouver East
3:00pm: Vancouver Island South vs Fraser Valley East
3:00pm: Fraser Valley West vs Vancouver Island North
3:00pm: Vancouver North vs Vancouver West
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