The 2022 Provincial Regional Championships (PRCs) concluded Sunday following three days of action-packed youth Rugby. Taking place at UBC’s Gerald McGavin Centre on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation, the tournament made its return to the BC Rugby calendar for the first time since 2019 and featured 47 regional teams and 1000 players vying for glory across six divisions.
Teams from Vancouver Rugby Union (VRU), Vancouver Island Rugby Union (VIRU Tide), North Vancouver Island Rugby Union (NIVRU Tsunami), Fraser Valley Rugby Union (FVRU) and the Thompson and Okanagan Rugby Alliance (TORA) competed in front of around 1500 spectators amid a festival-like atmosphere throughout the Canada Day long weekend. Following two days of glorious sunshine and pristine conditions, not even Sunday’s rainy conditions could dampen what was a fantastic weekend for all involved.
For emerging Rugby players, the 2022 PRCs presented a perfect opportunity to impress the watching BC Rugby Age-Grade Team Coaches and make a late bid for selection to the BC Bears Provincial Representative teams in action this summer.
BC Rugby will be releasing a full 2022 PRCs photo gallery this week – keep your eyes peeled on our social media channels!
U14 GIRLS
The Vancouver Island Rugby Union Tide topped the U14 Girls Division following an impressive unbeaten weekend to claim the gold medal. With six wins from six matches, the Tide side showed there is a bright future for girls Rugby on the Island. The Tide enjoyed a great balance of talent and determination to storm to the Division title, taking home the first-place medal with a +256 points difference.
Fraser Valley Rugby Union West were crowned silver medalists with five victories from six matches, dropping once only to the Tide, and finishing on 20 points for the weekend.
Rivals Fraser Valley Rugby Union East 1 wrapped up the top three, totalling four wins and 16 points from their six matches and losing out only to the top two teams.
U14 BOYS
The U14 Boys Division featured 10 teams, showcasing the depth of boys’ youth Rugby throughout the province.
Sunday’s bronze medal match featured an all-Vancouver Rugby Union affair, as the VRU North 1 and VRU South 1 battled it out in tough conditions. It would be the South’s day, however, as they held firm for a 28-19 win to capture third place and leave with the bronze medal.
The U14 Boys Final pitted Fraser Valley Rugby Union East against TORA in a tight-knit game. With neither side conceding too much to their opponents, it was FVRU East who edged a 14-7 victory to clinch the gold medal and take the title of Provincial Regional Champions back to the Valley.
U16 GIRLS
The U16 Girls tournament once again provided plenty of heart in mouth action over the course of three days, with some excellent play from one end to the other.
Fraser Valley Rugby Union West secured their place in the gold medal match with four victories from four matches, with TORA and the Vancouver Island Rugby Union facing off to see who would join the Valley team.
After a gutsy affair in the pouring rain, it was the TORA team that was awarded the bronze medal after they fell 12-0 to the VIRU in the third-place showdown.
The VIRU and the Fraser Valley West teams played out Sunday’s final, with the Valley team rallying to a 10-5 win to secure an unbeaten weekend and take home the gold medal.
U16 BOYS
The U16 Boys Division provided exciting drama on all three days of the 2022 PRCs, and Sunday’s climax did not disappoint.
With eight teams vying for the top three spots, the VIRU and Vancouver Rugby Union South were both unbeaten with 4-0 records after the opening two days. A fitting gold-medal match ended with the Island side claiming a 19-7 victory for the crown.
With the VIRU settling for silver, Fraser Valley West completed the top three with a 19-17 win over Vancouver Rugby Union West to claim the bronze medal.
U18 GIRLS
The U18 Girls tournament provided the drama of the weekend as medals weren’t decided until after the final slate of Round Robin matches late on Sunday afternoon.
Fraser Valley Rugby Union East, TORA and North Vancouver Island Rugby Union all went into the final round with a chance of winning gold. With Fraser Valley East and the NIVRU locked on points, a victory for each in their respective last matches would see the Island team crowned champions on head-to-head records.
Fraser Valley East defeated rivals Fraser Valley West 19-0 to put the pressure on the NIVRU, who faced TORA in the final match of the day. The Okanagan side powered to a 19-5 win to clinch the silver medal, with NIVRU taking bronze.
U18 BOYS
The U18 Boys Division once again saw plenty of thrills and spills throughout the weekend, with some excellent team and individual performances on display.
North Vancouver Island Rugby Union defeated Vancouver South 17-10 in pulsating final match of the weekend. With both teams giving everything, the Island team secured victory with a fantastic try in front of the grandstand.
The Vancouver Island Rugby Union picked up the bronze medal after an impressive weekend, amassing 12 points with three wins in five games, before falling 20-3 to the Vancouver Rugby Union South team in their semi-final earlier on Sunday.
THANK YOU
BC Rugby would like to thank a number of groups and individuals who made this event possible: to our Match Officials, Coaching Staff, Therapists and Medics, Players, parents, volunteers and vendors – thank you for your tireless hard work and commitment in helping grow the game throughout the province.
To Rugby Canada National 7s team players Nick Allen and Elias Ergas, BC Rugby President Mark Lewis and Board Member Connie McGinley, and BC Rugby CEO David Newson for presenting medals to the teams.
To official event photographer Zach Lattie, PA announcer Ryan Chilton, and livestream manager Eric Thompson for their excellent contributions over the weekend.
To our sponsors and partners for their commitment in helping grow our sport: Onni Group, The Rugby Shop, X-Treme Rugby Wear, Langara Fishing Adventures, belairdirect home Insurance, Gilbert Rugby Canada, and Stage and Screen Travel Services.
We can’t wait to welcome you back next year!
BC Rugby
A: 2015 Main Street, Vancouver, BC | V5T 0J8
T: 604.737.3065
E: info@bcrugby.com
BC Rugby gratefully acknowledges that its offices reside on the traditional and unceded territory of the Coast Salish Peoples, including the territories of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish) and Səl̓ílwətaʔ/Selilwitulh (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
