Vancouver Wave (Coastal Cup 2021): Roster and Results

The Coastal Cup league features a combination of historical regional teams, pioneering new sides and three university outfits – all with the intent on developing players and growing the game locally and nationally.

The Coastal Cup will showcase three regionally-based sides, in the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide, the Vancouver Wave and Vancouver East Rugby, along with the Pacific Pride Development Academy and university teams from UBC, University of Victoria and Trinity Western University. The series will see all seven sides play a round robin format, with the table-topping team taking home the Coastal Cup.

For TWU, UBC and the UVIC, the competition will also serve as a qualification tournament for the Canadian University Championship, with the top two university teams earning a spot in the national championship in the fall.

The fall campaign will mark a pilot season for the Coastal Cup, which brings a new competition to the West Coast that is aimed to bridge the gap between the club level and professional and national levels, while offering an opportunity for twice-weekly high-level training sessions with the regional teams. With the Pacific Pride and the three university sides involved, the league sets up well for focused development of high-performance athletes.

Vancouver Wave results:
October   2:   Vancouver Wave 34 / UBC  22
October 16:   Vancouver Wave 56 / TWU  3
October 23:   Vancouver Wave 16 / Vancouver East 9
October 30:   Vancouver Wave 25 / Crimson Tide 24
November 6: Vancouver Wave 37 / UVic 31

Roster:
Giles Calder            Edinburgh, Scotland, Axemen RFC
Alex Carmel             Montréal, QC, Meraloma Rugby Club
Matt Chan                 Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens
Ryan Chapman        Rockland, ON, Vancouver Rowing Club
Neil Courtney           North Vancouver, BC, Capilano RFC
Liam Doll                  North Vancouver, BC, Capilano RFC
Jalan Farris              Wainuiomata, NZ, Meraloma Rugby Club
Sean Ferguson        Bearspaw, AB, UBCOB Ravens
Darragh Foley         Tipperary, Ireland, Meraloma Rugby Club
Johnny Franklin      Bowen Island, BC, Capilano RFC
Jesse Hocking         Wellington, NZ, Scribes RFC
Matt Holt                   Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens
Jake Ikeda                 Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens
Pete Ingoldsby         Totnes, Devon, England, Capilano RFC
Robbie Jones            Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens
Chris Knopf               Vancouver BC, Capilano RFC
Wes Lee                      Vancouver, BC, Meraloma Rugby Club
Phil Lelievre               Thames, NZ, Capilano RFC
Colby Mason              Clermont, Australia, UBCOB Ravens
Dave Matthews          Ottawa, ON, Meraloma Rugby Club
Adam McQueen         Canmore, AB, UBCOB Ravens
Vassili Miroslaw         Vancouver, BC, UBC
Mike Moloney             Lyndoch, Australia, Capilano RFC
Brian Moylett              Ballina, Ireland, UBCOB Ravens
Matt Nicol                    Ottawa, ON, Capilano RFC
Josh Powdrell             Cape Town, South Africa, Scribes RFC
Tom Ruffalls                North Vancouver, BC, Capilano RFC
Jack Scher                  Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens
Spencer Scholnick     Vancouver, BC, Meraloma Rugby Club
Jake Schwartz             Aylmer, QC, Vancouver Rowing Club
Jeremy Simon             Bayonne, France, Capilano RFC
Mark Paddock             Maple Ridge, BC, Langley Rugby Club
Devon Singh-Parhar   Hamilton, NZ, Meraloma Rugby Club
Matias Suez                 Buenos Aires, Argentina, UBCOB Ravens
David Thompson        Vancouver, BC, UBCOB Ravens
Thomas Viljoen           Pretoria, South Africa, Meraloma Rugby Club
Isaac Winter                Palmerston North, NZ, Meraloma Rugby Club
Pat Zuk                        Grande Prairie, AB, Meraloma Rugby Club

 

 

 

PRCs 2019 Results

Another fun weekend at the PRCs for everyone involved. The Vancouver Rugby Union entered 15 teams this year and all were very competitive.

Results:

U14 Boys
VRU East - 2nd 
VRU West - 3rd 
VRU North - 4th 
VRU South - 5th 

U16 Girls 
VRU South - 6th 
VRU N.E.W - 7th 

U16 Boys 
VRU North - 2nd
VRU South 2 - 7th 
VRU East - 8th 
VRU South 1 - 9th 

U18 Girls 
VRU South - 5th 
VRU N.E.W - 6th 

U18 Boys 
VRU South - 3rd 
VRU North - 4th 
VRU East - 8th
Thanks to all the coaches, managers, trainers and physios for all their help over the weekend.

Senior Men’s Team (McKechnie Cup 2019): Roster & Results

Finals Recap
Vancouver retained the McKechnie Cup, awarded to the best senior men’s representative team in BC, on Saturday thanks to a spirited 60-33 victory over rivals Vancouver Island Crimson Tide.

Vancouver held a narrow 30-26 lead at half time, but their depth proved a significant advantage as they poured in an additional 30 points during the second frame while also containing the Crimson Tide’s attack.

Read the full match report from BC Rugby News. The highlight clips below are also courtesy BC Rugby News.

Finals Preview
The VRU Men square off against the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide on May 26 for the McKechnie Cup, with the match to played at the home grounds of Cowichan RFC, located at 1860 Herd Road in Duncan, BC. Kickoff time is scheduled for 2:30pm.

The McKechnie Cup has a long and storied tradition, stretching back over a century. It has historically been awarded to the top regional representative men’s rugby team in BC. Vancouver Wave players who have gone on to represent BC and Canada in recent seasons include Admir Cejvanovic, Callum Morrison, Harry Jones, Connor Trainor, Jordan Sandover-Best, Brock Staller, Jared Douglas, and others.

“We’re very lucky to be able to draw from a load of excellent rugby athletes here in Vancouver,” said Coach Curry Hitchborn. “This game is important for players who want to be seen, represent their club and city, and put on the jersey. Vancouver won this competition last year, and that will go a long way to building momentum and interest among our local players.”

Training
Training for this year’s squad will take place on the following dates and locations:

  • Tuesday, May 15, at Klahanie Park (home of Capilano RFC), starting at 7:00pm
  • Thursday, May 17, at Klahanie Park (home of Capilano RFC), starting at 7:00pm
  • Tuesday, May 22, at Jericho Park (home of UBCOB Ravens), starting at 7:00pm
  • Thursday, May 24, at Jericho Park (home of UBCOB Ravens), starting at 7:00pm

Interested players are encouraged to attend all four sessions.

For more information about participation, senior men’s players should contact Coach Curry Hitchborn at [email protected].

U23 Men’s Team (Dunbar Cup 2019): Roster & Results

Dunbar Keg Final Recap:
May 26, 2018 – Vancouver at VI Crimson Tide

Vancouver claimed the Dunbar Keg, awarded to the best U23 Men’s Representative Team in BC, on Saturday thanks to a convincing 52-22 victory over the Vancouver Island Jr. Crimson Tide.

Vancouver scored early and often, with the Tide narrowing the margin in closing stages of the game.

“It was an honour and a blast to work with some outstanding young talent,” said Vancouver Coach, Bruce Bowman. “They trained and played hard, and earned well deserved results. I’d also like to say thanks to the Cowichan Piggies for hosting the Final and to the Vancouver Rugby Union for the opportunity to lead this program.”

Select players from the U23 Dunbar Keg competition will now be invited to represent BC Rugby when the U23 Provincial Team faces Canada U20 next weekend in Abbotsford.

Semi-Final Match Result
May 12, Vancouver 48-10 Fraser Valley

The Vancouver U23 Men were clinical in a 48-10 victory over the Fraser Valley U23 Men on Saturday at Sullivan Heights Park.

With the win, Vancouver advances to face Vancouver Island in the Dunbar Keg Final, to be played in Cowichan on May 26th.

 

Photos of Vancouver vs Fraser Valley courtesy of Norma Jensen

Training

Players wanting to join the program are invited to attend upcoming training sessions on the following dates:

  • April 30 at Capilano
  • May 2   at Capilano
  • May 8   at Capilano
  • May 10 at Capilano
  • May 15 at Prince of Wales Secondary
  • May 17 at Capilano
  • May 22, at Jericho Park (home of UBCOB Ravens)
  • May 24, at Jericho Park (home of UBCOB Ravens)

All sessions are from 7:00pm to 8:15pm.

Interested players are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible and should contact Coach Bowman if they would like more details at [email protected].

Senior Women’s Team (Ruth Hellerud Cup 2019): Roster & Results

The Vancouver Wave Women earned a thrilling 38-31 victory over the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide on Saturday.

Regrettably, the Wave missed out on capturing the Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup, finding themselves 5 points adrift in the aggregate score over the two-game series.

Congrats to the Island on a well earned title defense, and congrats to the Vancouver Women on representing our city with pride and distinction.

Up next, the Women prepare for BC Provincial Team duty, as the Canadian Rugby Championships are fast approaching. This year’s tournament will take place July 15th-22nd in Saskatoon, SK,

 

Rep Rugby Season Begins with Classic VRU vs Island Matchups

For nearly as long as there has been rugby played in British Columbia, the question of where the province’s best players hail from has captivated and polarized fans.

The Vancouver Rugby Union (VRU) has been organizing Representative teams since 1906 to take on challengers ranging from Vancouver Island to the BC interior to international touring sides like the New Zealand All Blacks. This year promises to usher in another group of talented local rugby players.

With club rugby competitions wrapping up in early May, the focus will shift immediately to Representative Rugby matches taking place in the coming weeks, including fixtures for the VRU’s Senior Women, Senior Men and U23 Men. The players suiting up for the VRU will be in and ideal position to make a positive impression on BC Rugby selectors in attendance, with enticing provincial team opportunities on the horizon.

SENIOR WOMEN
Rugby fans will be treated to yet another edition of the classic Vancouver vs Island rivalry on May 12 as the Vancouver Wave Women battle for the Ruth Hellerud-Brown Cup. The venue for this match has been confirmed as Westshore RFC, located at 1767 Island Hwy, Victoria, while kickoff time is to be announced.

The Wave team has historically been a springboard for Vancouver-based players aspiring to play provincial and national rugby, with nationally capped players such as Andrea Burk, Hillary Leith, Carolyn McEwan, Demi Stamatakis, Gillian Boag and others having made their mark with the Vancouver Wave in recent seasons.

Training
The women will be training on April 25, May 8 and May 10, starting at 7:00pm, at Burnaby Lake Rugby Club. All Senior Women’s rugby players who aspire to represent their city, with an eye toward provincial and national team opportunities, are strongly encouraged to attend these sessions.

For more information about participation, senior women’s players should visit the VRU Women’s Facebook Group or contact Coach Walt Brandl at [email protected].

Results
Vancouver Wave 38-31 VI Crimson Tide


SENIOR MEN

The VRU Men square off against the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide on May 26 for the McKechnie Cup, with the match to played at the home grounds of Cowichan RFC, located at 1860 Herd Road in Duncan, BC. Kickoff time is scheduled for 2:45pm.

The McKechnie Cup has a long and storied tradition, stretching back over a century. It has historically been awarded to the top regional representative men’s rugby team in BC. Vancouver Wave players who have gone on to represent BC and Canada in recent seasons include Admir Cejvanovic, Callum Morrison, Harry Jones, Connor Trainor, Jordan Sandover-Best, Brock Staller, Jared Douglas, and others.

“We’re very lucky to be able to draw from a load of excellent rugby athletes here in Vancouver,” said Coach Curry Hitchborn. “This game is important for players who want to be seen, represent their club and city, and put on the jersey. Vancouver won this competition last year, and that will go a long way to building momentum and interest among our local players.”

Training
Training for this year’s squad will take place on the following dates and locations:

  • Tuesday, May 15, at Klahanie Park (home of Capilano RFC), starting at 7:00pm
  • Thursday, May 17, at Klahanie Park (home of Capilano RFC), starting at 7:00pm
  • Tuesday, May 22, at Jericho Park (home of UBCOB Ravens), starting at 7:00pm
  • Thursday, May 24, at Jericho Park (home of UBCOB Ravens), starting at 7:00pm

Interested players are encouraged to attend all four sessions.

For more information about participation, senior men’s players should contact Coach Curry Hitchborn at [email protected].

Results
May 26, Vancouver at VI Crimson Tide

U23 MEN
Vancouver will be fielding a U23 Men’s Team for this year’s edition of the Dunbar Keg.

Two games are being scheduled – one on May 12 and one on May 26 – with both games on the Island. Player transportation costs are totally covered. Jerseys will be supplied. Players will wear their club shorts and socks to round out the kit.

These will be critically important selection games, as players will be evaluated and scouted for inclusion on additional provincial pathway teams.

“I’m keen to see which players perform well in this U23 group, as opportunities could easily open up at the senior level in the near term for those with the right skills and attitude,” said Vancouver Senior Men’s Coach, Curry Hitchborn.

Opportunities will also be available for selection to an elite U23 BC Provincial Team which is set to compete against the Canada U20 side. That match is scheduled for Friday, June 1st 2018, during the BC High School rugby (BCSSRU) championships in Abbotsford.

The Vancouver Rugby Union U23 Men’s team will be coached by Bruce Bowman.

Training will take place as follows:

  • April 30 at Capilano
  • May 2   at Capilano
  • May 8   at Capilano
  • May 10 at Capilano
  • May 15 at Prince of Wales Secondary
  • May 17 at Capilano
  • May 22    TBD
  • May 24    TBD

All sessions are from 7:00pm to 8:15pm.

Interested players are encouraged to attend as many sessions as possible and should contact Coach Bowman if they would like more details at [email protected].

Results
May 26, Vancouver at Vancouver Island, Cowichan, BC
May 12, Vancouver 48-10 Fraser Valley

For more information and updates

Visit our website www.vancouverrugbyunion.ca
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/VancouverRugbyUnion
Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/VancouverRugby

Contact the VRU Communications Representative

Brendan Munro
[email protected]
604.349.3104

 

Langara Fishing Adventures Auction Winner Announced

The Vancouver Rugby Union (VRU) is pleased to announce that Charles Brown has won the Langara Fishing Adventures Auction, thanks to his generous $6,000 bid. Funds raised through this auction will go directly to supporting rugby in our community.

Many of you will no doubt recognize Charles from his time patrolling the sidelines at South Surrey Athletic Park whenever his son Quinton and the Bayside Sharks are in action.

Quinton is yet another example of the Sharks incredible pipeline of talent at the age-grade level. He is currently on loan to Queens University, where he is pursuing his engineering degree.

The VRU would like to extend a big thank you to Rick Bourne of the UBCOB Ravens for generously donating the auction prize. Rick represented the Vancouver Rugby Union on many occasions during his distinguished playing career, and continues to be a pillar of our local rugby community.

If you missed out on the bidding, but still want to go fishing, visit the Langara Fishing Adventures website and learn how to book your next getaway.