Tournaments & Events

The Senior Club Rugby season traditionally starts in September and ends with the BC Rugby Senior Club Finals in May. Club Rugby is the lifeblood of Rugby in BC. With over 60 registered Clubs in the Province, there is usually lots of competitive XVs and 7s action taking place throughout the year.

MEN’S SENIOR LEAGUES

Men’s Premier League 

The Men’s Premier League is the Elite Men’s league competing under Premier League rules. 

Men’s Division 1

The Men’s Division 1 is a highly competitive league aimed at growing and developing established Men’s XVs Programs. 

Men’s Division 2

The Men’s Division 2 is aimed at an entry point for Club programs that consistently field more than 15 players supporting Clubs to develop their more established programs.  

Men’s Division 3

The Men’s Division 3 is aimed at supporting multi-team Clubs developing teams with new or growing programs with a lens on participation and developing programs throughout the province

SENIOR WOMEN’S LEAGUES

Women’s Premier League

The Women’s Premier League is the Elite Women’s League competing under Premier League Rules. 

Women’s Division 1

The Women’s Division 1 is a competitive league aimed at growing and developing established Women’s XVs Programs. 

Women’s Division 2

The Women’s Division 2 aims to support developing teams with new or growing programs, primarily focused on smaller format games with a lens on participation and developing programs throughout the province.

The Interior Senior Club Rugby season starts in April and ends with the Saratoga Cup in August/September.

The roots and traditions of Interior Club Rugby run deep in these communities. These regions play their Rugby during the summer months on account of the challenging winter weather they experience between Fall and Spring. 

This adapted schedule does nothing to diminish the passion, enthusiasm and commitment to playing Rugby. To play in these leagues, players can travel over 10 hours across the Province to play other teams. For example, the drive from Prince Rupert to William’s Lake is 952 kilometres!

There are three Regional Leagues: Central Interior, Okanagan and Kootenay.

The top teams from each league qualify for the Saratoga Cup, an annual tournament to decide the best team each season. The Saratoga Cup is held in August and is a showcase for Rugby across the remote parts of the Province.

The Age-Grade Club Rugby season starts with Rugby 7s in September, before transititioning to XVs and ending with the Age-Grade Club Finals in December.

Before playing a full Rugby XVs program, Age-Grade players start the season in 7s or 10s variation of the game to develop fundamental Rugby skills. Rugby 7s is one of the fastest growing sports worldwide and the perfect place for all players to start their Rugby journey, regardless of previous experience.

From October to December, teams then expand to play XVs Rugby building towards our annual Age-Grade Club Finals in December. 

Age-Grade Club Leagues

Age-Grade Boys and Girls Club Rugby leagues take place regionally with schedules on Vancouver Island, Lower Mainland and Fraser Valley. There are competitions for teams in U18, U16 and U14 Age-Grades, creating a solid player pathway for progressive Rugby development. Only U16 and U18 Teams compete at Age-Grade Club Finals. 

The BC High School Rugby season starts in March and ends with the Provincial Championships in May. While BC Rugby does not manage High School Rugby directly, there is a lot of crossover between Coaching and Officiating. 

BC Rugby does not organize Junior Club Leagues in the Spring to accomodate for this. 

The Mini Club Rugby season starts in September and ends in May.

Mini Rugby is offered at many Clubs across the Province. In both Fall and Spring each year, several clubs offer TRY Rugby days. These are free events where Clubs open their doors to the wider community and encourage children to give Rugby a go.

Is Mini Rugby Safe?

Yes – when we are starting out with young children, we want to make it every bit as safe as it is fun. Mini Rugby is a safe, non-contact format of Rugby.

Rookie Rugby

New recruits to Mini Rugby play Rookie Rugby (also known as Flag or Touch Rugby). It is non-contact, fast, fun, inclusive and simple for any child to learn. All participants wear belts with flags attached by Velcro and try to evade the clutches of their opponents.

If a player holding the ball loses a flag, they must stop and pass the ball to a teammate. Games are overseen by coaches who help guide the players around the field, encouraging inclusivity and mass participation.

The emphasis is on enjoyment, getting children in contact with a Rugby ball, meeting new friends and working off all that excess energy. Rookie Rugby is played by all players at K to Grade 3, as well as newcomers in the Grade 4-6 groupings.

Introduction to Contact

As children become more familiar with the core concepts of the sport, coaches take the opportunity to safely introduce them to simplified rules of contact. This only happens at the Grade 4-6 groupings and is managed by coaches, emphasising proper technique on how to tackle and be tackled. This controlled environment is the safest way for children to learn the next evolution in the sport of Rugby, while still maintaining the core themes of inclusion, fun and exercise.

The all-important BC Rugby Senior Club Finals are the climax of the Senior Rugby seasons in British Columbia. After a gruelling and competitive regular season and Play-Off schedule, two teams from each respective BC Rugby Senior Club Divisions face off for the honour of being crowned champions. The BC Rugby Senior Club Finals takes place in May. 

This is a day stuffed to the brim with electrifying Rugby action, as the top two teams from each Divisional Play-Off campaign meet to determine which Club will be showered in glory.

For Club supporters, this is fever pitch, where nerves and emotions range. For those with no Club allegiance or anyone new to the sport, it is a fantastic day of sporting spectacle, watching the very best in Men’s and Women’s Club Rugby.

The all-important BC Rugby Age-Grade Club Finals are the climax of the Age-Grade Club Rugby seasons in British Columbia, and feature our top U16 and U18 Boys and Girls XVs Teams. 

At the end of the Fall season, Clubs enter Regional Play-Offs before the Mainland and Island Champions are crowned for the Island and Mainland. 

These Regional Champions then face off at Age-Grade Club Finals for the honour of being crowned overall champions. 

BC Rugby Age-Grade Club Finals take place in early December, and features four Finals across our U16 and U18 Boys and Girls Divisions. 

The Saratoga Cup is contested by teams from three regions: the Okanagan, the Kootenays, and the Central Interior. Contrary to the Island and Lower Mainland Rugby communities, these regions play their Rugby during the summer months on account of the challenging winter weather that they experience between Fall and Spring.

Each region hosts the Saratoga Cup every three years on a rotational basis. This end-of-season event features both Men's and Women's Saratoga Cup Finals, with the top teams facing off for Championship bragging rights. 

The McKechnie Cup, Dunbar Keg and Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cups are three historic regional Rugby Cup competitions within British Columbia.

Teams from South Vancouver Island (Tide), North Vancouver Island (Tsunami), Vancouver (Wave) and Fraser Valley (Venom) compete for both pride and coveted silverware in a round-robin format in Spring each year.

The competitions pit the top athletes from each region against one another in Senior Men, Senior Women and U20 Men groups.

Senior Men compete for the McKechnie Cup, one of the oldest contested trophies throughout British Columbia and Canada. Dating back to 1896, the trophy was donated by Nanaimo physician Dr. Robert McKechnie and was originally contested by clubs from Vancouver, Nanaimo and UBC.

Senior Women battle for the prestigious Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup, named after the former Canada National Team captain, BC Representative and Rugby Canada Hall of Famer.

U20 Men’s Teams face off for the Dunbar Keg, one of the highest accolades in regional Rugby.

As well as the honour of lifting silverware, players will be hoping to impress to improve their chances of being selected to the BC Bears.

Provincial Regional Championships (PRCs) take place in July and sees best-on-best action as players suit up for their respective regions. 

Each of the four regions bring one team per division that are selected from their own internal Provincial Regional League competitions. Teams will compete over two days, with each team guaranteed two full-length games (one per day). This allows for a more selective, best-on-best experience for BC’s top young athletes, allowing them to better develop for provincial and national competitions.  

This format also provides BC Bears Coaches further opportunities to assess athletes for provincial competition, with both the PRL and PRCs acting as key provincial representative selection tools.  

The BC Summer Games are British Columbia’s biennial celebration of sport and community. Since 1978, the BC Games (Summer & Winter) have taken place in 40 communities and involved over 375,000 participants and volunteers and thousands more as spectators and supporters.

The purpose of the BC Games is “to provide an opportunity for the development of athletes, coaches, and officials in preparation for higher levels of competition in a multi-sport event which promotes interest and participation in sport and sporting activities, individual achievement and community development.”

The BC Games bring together British Columbia’s best emerging high-performance athletes, trained coaches, and certified officials for four days of competition.  This experience is an important development opportunity and steppingstone towards higher level sports competitions.

Read more about the BC Summer Games here. 

The Canada Cup was a new introduction for the 2026 Senior Provincial Representative Season thanks to funding from the Canadian Rugby Foundation. 

The Canada Cup sees the BC Bears and Rugby Ontario Blues Senior Men's XVs Programs clash in an exciting three-match Series, with the provinces alternating as hosts each year. 

This competition is used as a selection tool by Rugby Canada's Senior Men's National Team Coaches. 

The BC Bears Senior Women's Blue vs. Gold Series has been a mainstay of our Programming since the return from COVID. 

This three-match Series runs throughtout late May/June and sees BC's best female athletes come face-to-face on the field. 

This competition is used as a selection tool by Rugby Canada's Senior Women's National Team Coaches. 

The U19 Canadian Rugby Championship pits the best young provincial teams throughout the country against each other.

Men’s and Women’s Provincial teams from across Canada gather to play a round-robin style tournament, with the winners being decided on points.

The U19 Canadian Rugby Championships usually take place in late July/early August. 

The O'Neills Challenge Cup was introduced in 2025 and sees the BC Bears and Rugby Ontario U17 XVs Programs face-off in a three-match Series.

This event sees the country's best U17 male and female athletes compete in a high-stakes environment, and is a pathway competition leading to the U19 Canadian Rugby Championships. 

Held every two years, alternating between winter and summer, the Canada Games are the country’s marquee event for amateur sport representing the highest level of national competition for thousands of up-and-coming Canadian athletes. As the best in their age group, these young competitors come to the Games having trained long and hard to be among those chosen to represent their respective province or territory.

In 2022, Rugby 7s made its inaugural appearance at the Canada Summer Games in Niagara. Team BC dominated the competition, bringing home the gold medal before successfully defending it again in 2025. 

Kamloops 7s is the biggest youth Rugby 7s tournament in North America. It has seen extraordinary popularity amongst Age-Grade teams across the Province and beyond. 

Specifically designed for Girls’ and Boys’ teams in the U14-U18 categories, the tournament delivers fun, action-packed games in a picturesque setting.

Taking place over two days and drawing in over 140 teams from Canada and beyond, the tournament is a fantastic celebration of emerging youth Rugby talent.

The Kamloops 7s takes place at McArthur Island Park on Kamloops’ North Shore. In previous years, the event was held across three separate venues, but the move to McArthur Park in 2018 helped to foster a more inclusive tournament for all players, as well as removing logistical challenges for Clubs, parents, players, and event organisers.

Learn more about the Kamloops 7s here. 

The Vancouver Sevens Invitational (VSI) is a two-day Rugby Sevens Tournament held alongside the HSBC SVNS Vancouver.

The purpose of the Vancouver Sevens Invitational (VSI) is to foster the growth of competitive Rugby throughout British Columbia while also serving to prepare athletes for Provincial Regional Championships (PRCs). 

The VSI aims to provide stage appropriate competition to motivate, challenge and inspire young players, as well as Coaches and Officials. 

Featuring regional and provincial teams from across Canada in U16 and U18 Divisions, this is an incredibly fun - and highly competitive - event. The U18 Finals are hosted at BC Place Stadium as part of the HSBC SVNS Vancouver Program. 

The HSBC SVNS Series is one of the most dynamic global sporting events on the market. This exciting spectacle is a jewel in the BC sporting calendar.

Vancouver’s BC Place Stadium has hosted the HSBC SVNS Vancouver for 10 years, and the stop remains incredibly popular with world-class athletes. 

The competition sees Canada’s national Sevens Teams go head-to-head with the world’s best players on the global stage.

For more information and updates about these fantastic events, visit the Canada Sevens Website.

The Mini Club Rugby season starts in September and ends in May.

Mini Rugby is offered at many Clubs across the Province. In both Fall and Spring each year, several clubs offer TRY Rugby days. These are free events where Clubs open their doors to the wider community and encourage children to give Rugby a go.

Is Mini Rugby Safe?

Yes – when we are starting out with young children, we want to make it every bit as safe as it is fun. Mini Rugby is a safe, non-contact format of Rugby.

Rookie Rugby

New recruits to Mini Rugby play Rookie Rugby (also known as Flag or Touch Rugby). It is non-contact, fast, fun, inclusive and simple for any child to learn. All participants wear belts with flags attached by Velcro and try to evade the clutches of their opponents.

If a player holding the ball loses a flag, they must stop and pass the ball to a teammate. Games are overseen by coaches who help guide the players around the field, encouraging inclusivity and mass participation.

The emphasis is on enjoyment, getting children in contact with a Rugby ball, meeting new friends and working off all that excess energy. Rookie Rugby is played by all players at K to Grade 3, as well as newcomers in the Grade 4-6 groupings.

Introduction to Contact

As children become more familiar with the core concepts of the sport, coaches take the opportunity to safely introduce them to simplified rules of contact. This only happens at the Grade 4-6 groupings and is managed by coaches, emphasising proper technique on how to tackle and be tackled. This controlled environment is the safest way for children to learn the next evolution in the sport of Rugby, while still maintaining the core themes of inclusion, fun and exercise.

Mini Rugby is offered at many clubs across the Province. In both Fall and Spring each year, several Clubs also offer TRY Rugby days. These are free events where clubs open their doors to the wider community and encourage children to give Rugby a go.

TRY Rugby is a fantastic opportunity to experience the game of Rugby in a Safe, Welcoming & Fun atmosphere. A TRY Rugby Event is a non-contact Rugby event held as an introduction to the game for participants of any age. These events are typically flag Rugby introductory sessions or small jamborees for potential players who are new to the game and want to give it a go.

The emphasis is on fun, enjoyment, ball handling skills, socialising and exercise.  It is a great way for young people to get a first taste of the wonderful sport of Rugby.

Rugby Canada launched its T1 webpage and the Rugby Canada T1 Rugby Guide for Schoolteachers, marking crucial steps in introducing and developing non-contact rugby in Canada, as outlined in Rugby Canada’s National Growth Plan.

Developed by World Rugby, T1 rugby is a non-contact variation of rugby that focuses on developing fundamental skills while ensuring safety and inclusivity for all participants.

Designed to be flexible and easy to implement, Rugby Canada has released a comprehensive school curriculum that can be used by teachers to introduce this exciting game in their classrooms.

The Rugby Canada T1 Rugby Guide for Schoolteachers can be found here.