BC Rugby’s 2023 Provincial Regional Championships (PRCs) concluded on Sunday following three days of action-packed youth Rugby at UBC’s Gerald McGavin Centre, with the Vancouver Island Junior Tide taking four gold medals back to the Island.
Taking place on the traditional, ancestral, and unceded territory of the xʷməθkʷəy̓əm (Musqueam) First Nation, the tournament made its return to the BC Rugby calendar and featured 42 teams and over 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 (NVIRU Tsunami), Fraser Valley Rugby Union (FVRU) and the Thompson-Okanagan Rugby Alliance (TORA) competed in front of over 2500 spectators and enjoyed the festival atmosphere throughout July 7-9.
The weather stayed perfect all weekend, allowing for excellent playing conditions – if a little hot!
For emerging Rugby players, the 2023 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 U16 and U18 Representative teams in action this summer at the 2023 Western Canadian Championships in Calgary, Alberta.
BC Rugby will be releasing a full 2023 PRCs photo gallery this week – keep your eyes peeled on our social media channels!
U14 BOYS
Fraser Valley East was crowned U14 Boys champions following a thrilling weekend of matches. Vancouver Rugby Union North took home the silver medals, with Vancouver Rugby Union Central finishing the weekend with bronze medals. Below is a round-up of results and matches:
SATURDAY – POOL MATCHES
The U14 Boys Division kicked off Saturday’s Day 2 action across all three Fields. VRU Central dominated a 56-0 win over VRU South B, while VRU North defeated Fraser Valley West 47-12. Fraser Valley East were 20-0 victors over VRU South A.
North Vancouver Island Tsunami saw off Fraser Valley West 27-5, while Vancouver Island Tide beat VRU South B 38-0. Fraser Valley East secured back-to-back wins with a 39-5 triumph over TORA.
VRU Central and VIRU played out a tight 5-5 draw, while VRU South A enjoyed a 27-5 win over TORA. VRU North, meanwhile, made it two wins from two matches with a 48-5 win against North Vancouver Island Tsunami.
SUNDAY – SEEDED MATCHES
Fraser Valley West defeated VRU South B 34-5 in Sunday’s opening match, before Vancouver Island Tide defeated Island rivals NIVRU 36-0. VRU North edged by VRU Central 15-10 before TORA defeated Fraser Valley West 17-12 in a close encounter. VRU South beat the Tsunami 36-0, while Fraser Valley East wrapped up the days play with two wins against VRU North (41-0) and VRU Central (31-5).
U14 GIRLS
Fraser Valley East was crowned U14 Girls champions following a dramatic win over the Vancouver Island Tide in the final match of Day 3. Tide took the silver medals back to Vancouver Island, with the North Vancouver Island Tsunami claiming the bronze medals.
SATURDAY
Vancouver Island Tide kicked off the U14 Girls Division on Saturday with a 20-10 win against Fraser Valley East, before the North Vancouver Island Tsunami edged a tight 25-19 battle against Fraser Valley West.
Vancouver Island Tide were 53-15 victors over the Fraser Valley West, while Fraser Valley East defeated Tsunami 29-7.
SUNDAY
The Vancouver Island Tide kicked off Day 2 with a 22-0 shutout win against their Tsunami rivals, before Fraser Valley East defeated Fraser Valley West 22-10.
Tsunami defeated Fraser Valley West 39-5 to claim third place, before Fraser Valley East saw off the Tide with a late try in front of a bumper crowd on Field 2.
U16 BOYS
Vancouver Island Tide was crowned champions of the U16 Boys Division following three days of intense competition and a tight final match with VRU South, who take home the silver medals. VRU Central saw off Fraser Valley East in the bronze-medal match.
Read the daily round-ups below:
FRIDAY – POOL MATCHES
VRU South kicked off Friday’s U16 Boys Pools action with a 22-7 win against the North Vancouver Island Tsunami, before VRU North and Fraser Valley West battled out a 7-7 tie on Field 3.
Vancouver Island Tide edged a tight 13-0 win against VRU Central, before Fraser Valley East kicked off its campaign with a 24-0 win over TORA.
VRU South made it two wins from their opening two matches defeating Fraser Valley West 24-5, while VRU North and the North Vancouver Island Tsunami could not be separated in a thrilling 7-7 draw.
VRU Central took a 10-0 win against Fraser Valley East before Vancouver Island Tide wrapped up the day’s U16 Boys play with a 38-0 shutout win over TORA.
SATURDAY – POOL & SEEDED MATCHES
VRU Central opened the second day with a 24-12 win over TORA, before Fraser Valley East and the Vancouver Island Tide played out an entertaining 10-10 tie. VRU South defeated VRU North counterparts 28-10.
North Vancouver Island Tsunami defeated Fraser Valley West 21-14 in a close match on Field 3.
Heading into the seeded matches, Pool A No. 1 Seeds VRU South defeated Pool B No. 4 seed 21-12 to advance, while Pool A No. 3 seed VRU North saw off the challenge from Pool B No. 2 seed VRU Central with a 17-0 win. Pool B No. 3 seed Fraser Valley East claimed a 26-12 win against Pool A No. 2 seed North Vancouver Island Tsunami.
Fraser Valley West and the Vancouver Island Tide completed the day’s U16 Boys play, with Tide running out 24-14 winners.
SUNDAY
TORA defeated VRU North 14-12 in the first match of the day, before the North Vancouver Island Tsunami ran out 7-0 winners against Fraser Valley West. VRU South defeated their VRU Central counterparts 10-8 to reach the final, with the Vancouver Island Tide edging a close semi-final against the Fraser Valley East 18-15.
VRU North defeated Fraser Valley West 12-5, with the Tsunami beating TORA 17-12 to determine final placings.
VRU Central enjoyed a shutout 14-0 win in the bronze-medal match, before Tide defeated VRU South by one try in a five-point game against VRU South to claim gold.
U16 GIRLS
Vancouver Island Tide made it double gold in the U16 divisions as it claimed the U16 Girls title, with Fraser Valley West taking home the silver medals. While VRU South were awarded the bronze medals on the day, a full review into the results after the event confirmed that Fraser Valley East finished third overall. BC Rugby will send bronze medals to Fraser Valley East athletes and update the records accordingly.
FRIDAY
Friday’s U16 Girls action kicked off in overcast conditions on Field 3 as Fraser Valley West defeated VRU South 39-0 with a blistering display of attack in the opening match of the day.
North Vancouver Island Tsunami started their campaign with a 29-7 victory over TORA, before Fraser Valley East triumphed 46-0 over VRU North. Vancouver Island Tide defeated TORA 34-0 in its opening match.
Fraser Valley West saw off counterparts Fraser Valley East 38-0VRU South claimed its first victory of the Championships with a 33-12 win over VRU North. Vancouver Island Tide wrapped up the day’s U16 Girls action with a 10-7 win against the North Vancouver Island Tsunami.
SATURDAY
Vancouver Island Tide kicked off the U16 Girls action on Day 2 with a 19-0 win over VRU South. Fraser Valley West defeated TORA 38-0, before North Vancouver Island Tsunami enjoyed a 27-0 win over VRU North.
Fraser Valley East saw off the challenge of VRU South with 17-5 victory, while Fraser Valley West defeated North Vancouver Island Tsunami 24-0. Vancouver Island Tide, meanwhile, enjoyed a big 63-0 win against VRU North, while Fraser Valley East finished the day’s play with a 12-0 win against TORA.
SUNDAY
TORA began Sunday’s action with a 24-10 over VRU North, before the Tsunami fell 17-12 to VRU South. Tide defeated Fraser Valley East 45-0, while Fraser Valley West beat VRU North 20-0. VRU South inflicted the same scoreline on TORA, before the Tsunami finished with a close 5-0 win against Fraser Valley East. Tide rounded off its championship with a 5-0 win over Fraser Valley East to claim gold.
U18 BOYS
Vancouver Island Tide edged a spirited TORA team to secure the U18 Boys gold medals, with the Thompson-Okanagan side settling for silver after a successful weekend. VRU Central saw off the threat of the Tsunami to clinch bronze.
FRIDAY – POOL MATCHES
VRU Central edged out the Vancouver Island Tide 19-14 in a tight opening match on Friday morning, before TORA enjoyed a 20-5 victory over Fraser Valley East. North Vancouver Island Tsunami battled to a strong 29-11 win against VRU South.
VRU North opened with a 14-7 win against Fraser Valley West before VRU Central saw off Fraser Valley East 41-0 on Field 3. The Vancouver Island Tide edged past TORA 12-7, before Fraser Valley West defeated VRU South 29-17.
The North Vancouver Island Tsunami wrapped up Day 1’s U18 Boys action with a 34-17 win over VRU North.
SATURDAY – POOL MATCHES
VRU South kicked off Saturday’s action with a 17-5 win over VRU North, before the North Vancouver Island Tsunami secure top seedings with a 26-7 win over Fraser Valley West.
VRU Central defeated TORA 10-0 before Vancouver Island Tide beat Fraser Valley East 22-7 on Field 2.
SATURDAY – SEEDED MATCHES
Pool A Seed No. 1 North Vancouver Island Tsunami was 35-3 victors over Pool B Seed No. 4 Fraser Valley East. Pool B No. 2 seed Vancouver Island Tide scored a big 38-5 win against Pool A No. 3 seed VRU South.
Pool A No. 2 seed Fraser Valley West was beaten 17-5 by Pool B No. 3 seed TORA. Pool B No. 1 seed VRU Central claimed a shutout 17-0 win over Pool A No. 4 seed VRU North.
SUNDAY – PLAYOFF MATCHES
Fraser Valley East kicked off a busy Day 3 of playoff matches with a 7-3 win over VRU South, before VRU North defeated Fraser Valley West 19-12 to advance. Tide found their stride in a pulsating 25-5 win against their Tsunami rivals, while TORA scored a 7-5 upset over the favorited VRU Central.
VRU South beat Fraser Valley West 21-12, before Fraser Valley East snuck past VRU North 19-14.
VRU Central bounced back to win bronze in a five-point game against the Tsunami (19-14), before the Tide held off the TORA threat to hold on for a 14-10 gold medal victory in the final match of the championships.
U18 GIRLS
Vancouver Island Tide claimed its fourth gold of the tournament in the U18 Girls Division, with Fraser Valley East picking up the silver medals. TORA beat the Tsunami in a close encounter to take the bronze medals home to the Interior.
FRIDAY
Fraser Valley East and TORA kicked off Day 1’s U18 Girls matches with a pulsating 17-17 tie, before the North Vancouver Island Tsunami defeated TORA 56-0 in Game 2. The Vancouver Island Tide kicked off its Championships with a 45-0 win against Fraser Valley West, before claiming a second successive win in its second match against Fraser Valley East (22-7).
North Vancouver Island Tsunami ensured it ended Day 1 with two victories following a hard-fought 10-5 win against TORA, before VRU South saw out the first day’s action with a 5-0 victory over Fraser Valley West.
SATURDAY
Fraser Valley East kicked off Saturday’s action with a dominating 37-0 win over rivals Fraser Valley West, before Vancouver Island Tide saw off the challenge of North Vancouver Island Tsunami in a 22-7 victory.
TORA kicked off its campaign with a big 60-0 win over VRU South, while Fraser Valley East scored a 20-10 win against North Vancouver Island Tsunami. Vancouver Island Tide stormed past VRU South with a 64-0 win. TORA finished the day’s U18 Girls action with a 41-0 victory against Fraser Valley West.
SUNDAY
Fraser Valley East kicked off the final day of the Championships with a 81-0 demolition of VRU South to reach the final, before the Tsunami beat Fraser Valley West 24-0 on Field 3. The Tide advanced from its semi-final with a 17-5 win against TORA.
TORA recovered to clinch a close match against the Tsunami 15-12 to win bronze, before the Tide and Fraser Valley East played out an entertaining final on Field 2. This time, Tide edged clear 17-10 to finish off a memorable weekend in Vancouver.
THANK YOU!
BC Rugby would like to thank all 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 hard work and commitment in helping grow the game throughout the province.
To Rugby Canada Senior Men’s 7s team players Jake Thiel and Elias Ergas for presenting medals to the teams.
To official event photographer Shelly Fey and PA announcer Ryan Chilton for their contributions over the weekend.
To our Official Merchandise Partners, The Rugby Shop, and our official sports nutrition partners, Blonyx, for providing their services throughout 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 Blonyx.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Province of British Columbia.
BC Rugby
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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.
