Held over two days, the Saratoga Cup brings together BC’s most geographically dispersed Clubs, from north-west to south-east, and is one of the most prestigious events in the BC Rugby calendar. The Saratoga Cup is contested by teams from three regions: the Okanagan, the Kootenays, and the 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.

For the first time in the event’s history, the 2022 Saratoga Cup will feature a women’s competition held alongside the men’s event.

With Prince George now unable to attend, the women’s competition will feature four teams competing 7s Rugby across a packed weekend schedule. All women’s matches will have 7-minute halves.

Saturday’s action will see teams face against each other once in round robin format. Teams will then be reseeded for Sunday’s play, which will be knockout format across two semi-finals and final, after which the inaugural champions will be declared!

The four teams taking part will be:

• Elk Valley RFC
• Kamloops Rugby Club
• Kelowna RFC
• Terrace RFC

Elk Valley RFC and Kamloops Rugby Club featured in Exhibition matches as part of the 2021 event, while Kelowna RFC and Terrace RFC will be making their Women’s Saratoga Cup debuts!

Check below for the 2022 Saratoga Cup Schedule. 

The Men’s competition will see four teams compete two semi-finals, with winners playing out the championship match for the coveted Saratoga Cup. Semi-final losers will also play a third-place playoff match. The Men’s teams confirmed for this year’s event are:

• Terrace Northmen – Winners Central Interior Rugby Union
• Rocky Mountain Rogues – Winners Kootenay Cup
• Vernon Rugby Club – Winners Okanagan Rugby Union
• Elk Valley – Runner up from Kootenay Cup

The confirmed semi-final line-ups are:

Terrace Northmen RFC vs. Elk Valley Bulls

Rocky Mountain Rogues vs. Vernon Rugby Club

The Rocky Mountain Rogues will be looking to make it back-to-back Saratoga Cup triumphs after they defeated Williams Lake Rustlers in last year’s final. Terrace Northmen, who lifted the Cup in 2019 before the global pandemic hit, claimed third in 2021, and Vernon Rugby Club finished in fourth.

Based in north-west BC, Terrace Northmen Rugby Club was established in 1974 and is one of BC’s longest standing sports Clubs. Following a brief hiatus, the Club was reformed in 2007 and has gone from strength to strength since – including winning three Saratoga Cups (2016, 2017 and 2019).

The Northmen finished third in 2021 after losing to eventual winners Rocky Mountain Rogues in the semi-finals, before beating Vernon in the third-place playoff.

However, the Northmen enjoyed an unbeaten regular season in 2022 with six wins from six matches to top the Central Interior League standings.

2022 Results

Terrace Northmen 77-0 Prince Rupert Seamen

Terrace Northmen 31-7 Williams Lake Rustlers

Terrace Northmen 38-0 Prince George

Terrace Northmen 49-5 Williams Lake Rustlers

Terrace Northmen 42-0 Prince George

Prince Rupert Seamen 17-40 Terrace Northmen

The Rocky Mountain Rogues Rugby Club was formed in 1978 and has been active within the Kootenays ever since. Having broken Terrace’s grip on the Saratoga Cup in 2018, the Rogues claimed the 2021 title with victory over Terrace in the semi-finals and then Williams Lake In the final.

The Rogues head into the 2022 tournament as defending champions and with an unblemished record this season, having beaten regional rivals Elk Valley Bulls to win the Kootenay Cup.

2022 Results

Rocky Mountain Rogues 40-10 Elk Valley Bulls

Elk Valley Bulls 12-31 Rocky Mountain Rogues

The Vernon Jackals secured their spot at the 202 Saratoga Cup as Okanagan Rugby Union champions with an unbeaten four wins from four matches in their regular season.

The Jackals will be looking to improve on their 2021 showing, where they finished fourth following defeats to Williams Lake and Terrace at last year’s finals.

2022 Results

Yeti Rugby Club 5-44 Vernon Rugby Club

Yeti Rugby Club 21-56 Vernon Rugby Club

Vernon Rugby Club 31-28 Yeti Rugby Club

Vernon Rugby Club 14-12 Penticton Harlequins

The Elk Valley Rugby Football Club was established in 2013 in Fernie, BC by a group of people with a shared passion for the beautiful game that is rugby. Since then, the club has grown to include a senior men’s team, a senior women’s team and a rookie rugby program.

The Bulls qualified for the 2022 Saratoga Cup as Kootenay Cup runners-up, following two defeats to the Rocky Mountain Rogues in the regular season.

2022 Results

Rocky Mountain Rogues 40-10 Elk Valley Bulls

Elk Valley Bulls 12-31 Rocky Mountain Rogues

The full 2022 Saratoga Cup weekend schedule can be found below. All results will be posted on the BC Rugby website and app, with a full recap and photo gallery to be posted on the BC Rugby website next week.

Saturday’s action will also feature Kamloops Rugby Club and Kelowna Rugby Club play out their BC Rugby Men’s Division 3 and Men’s Division 1 fixtures!

Saturday’s Schedule:

10:00am – Men’s Division 3 – Kamloops vs Kelowna

11:45am – Men’s Division 1 – Kamloops vs Kelowna

1:30pm – Saratoga Cup Semi-Final 1 – Terrace Northmen RFC vs. Elk Valley RFC

3:00pm – Saratoga Cup Semi-Final 2 – Rocky Mountain Rogues vs. Vernon Jackals

4:30pm – Saratoga Women’s 7s Round 1 – Elk Valley vs Terrace Northmen

4:45pm – Saratoga Women’s 7s Round 2 – Kamloops vs Kelowna Crows

5:00pm – Saratoga Women’s 7s Round 3 – Terrace Northmen vs Kamloops

5:15pm – Saratoga Women’s 7s Round 4 – Elk Valley vs Kelowna Crows

5:30pm – Saratoga Women’s 7s Round 5 – Terrace Northmen vs Kelowna Crows

5:45pm – Saratoga Women’s 7s Round 6 – Elk Valley vs Kamloops

Sunday’s Schedule

10:30am – Saratoga Cup Third Place Playoff

12:00pm – Saratoga Women’s 7s Semi Final 1 – Seed 1 vs. Seed 4

12:15pm – Saratoga Women’s 7s Semi Final 2 – Seed 2 vs. Seed 3

12:45pm – Saratoga Women’s 7s Third Place Playoff

1:00pm – Saratoga Women’s 7s Final

1:30pm – Men’s Saratoga Cup Final