The BC Bears U19 Women lifted the 2025 Canadian Rugby U19 Championship title after a thrilling final victory over Rugby Ontario, while the BC Bears U19 Men finished second after narrowly missing out to their Ontario counterparts in Calgary.
Both BC Bears U19 teams headed into Sunday’s final showdowns against Ontario with three victories each having amassed wins against the Atlantic Rock, Alberta Wolfpack and Rugby Quebec over the past week.
With Rugby Ontario’s Men’s and Women’s teams also sitting on three wins each, it meant Sunday’s final Round Robin games were essentially winner-takes-all Championship deciders.
The BC Bears U19 Women rallied from a 0-10 deficit against the defending champions Ontario to win Sunday’s match 17-10 and claim its first ever U19 Women’s National Championship crown. The BC Bears had not won a game since the Women’s competition was first introduced in 2023 but produced four fantastic performances under Head Coach Jake Thiel and Assistant Coaches Jordan McLeod and Jenna Elidoros.
The Bears Women secured wins over the Atlantic (19-0), Alberta (25-5), and Rugby Quebec (34-0) in their opening three matches.
The BC Bears U19 Men’s team, meanwhile, narrowly fell 21-25 to their Rugby Ontario counterparts in an exhilarating final encounter as the Eastern province secured back-to-back Championship triumphs. Led by the Coaching team of Curry Hitchborn, Tom Larisch, Logan Martin-Feek and Ken McGovern, the Bears trailed 25-7 heading into the final 12 minutes of Sunday’s match and almost secured a scintillating comeback with the final play of the game. However, the Ontario defence held firm, and the Bears had to settle for the silver medals for the second successive year.
The Bears Men’s team enjoyed wins against the Atlantic (26-3), Alberta Wolfpack (51-12), and Rugby Quebec (52-5) in the tournament.
The 2025 Canadian Rugby U19 Championships were hosted by Rugby Alberta at Calgary Rugby Club over the past week. The BC Bears took two 26-strong squads that were selected following the conclusion of the 2025 Provincial Regional Championships.
BC BEARS U19 MEN SQUAD, SCHEDULE & RESULTS
The BC Bears U19 Men’s Squad is as follows:
- Alexander Muir – University College Dublin
- Ben Bjorndal – TWU Spartans
- Brek Ball – University of Western Ontario
- Brett Nash – Queen’s University
- Chris Macgregor – Concordia University
- Dallin Westerlund – TWU Spartans
- David Michell – UVIC Vikes
- Ethan Booth – Queen’s University
- Evan Palmer – Queen’s University
- Evan Vodarek – UBCO Heat
- Gregory Putterill – Shawnigan Lake School
- Jacob Blackwood – UBC Thunderbirds
- Jonty Nicholas – UBC Thunderbirds
- Joshua du Toit – UBC Thunderbirds
- Jute Norlin – Yeti Rugby Club
- Levi Kanewske – UBC Thunderbirds
- Liam James – UBC Thunderbirds
- Liam Turnbull – UBC Thunderbirds
- Lucas Townsend – Queen’s University
- Manraj Randhawa – Abbotsford RFC
- Michael Oughtred – UVIC Vikes
- Noah Merkur – Queen’s University
- Riley Ashley – Abbotsford RFC
- Sebastian Isherwood-Gruver – UVIC Vikes
- Simroy John – Shawnigan Lake School
- Theo Phillips – UBCO Heat
Head Coach: Curry Hitchborn (VRU)
Assistant Coaches: Tom Larisch (Capilano RFC), Logan Martin-Feek (VIRU Tide)
Team Manager: Ken McGovern
Trainer: Naomi Ogawa
Team Schedule & Results:
- July 22: W 26-3 vs Atlantic
- July 24: W 51-12 vs Alberta
- July 25: W 52-5 vs Rugby Quebec
- July 27: L 21-25 vs Rugby Ontario
BC BEARS 21-25 RUGBY ONTARIO
BC BEARS 52-5 RUGBY QUEBEC
BC BEARS 51-12 ALBERTA WOLFPACK
BC BEARS 26-3 ATLANTIC
BC BEARS U19 WOMEN SQUAD, SCHEDULE & RESULTS
The BC Bears U19 Women’s XVs Squad is as follows:
- Abigail Stanley – James Bay AA
- Addy Oldfield – Burnaby Lake RFC/UBC
- Alessandra Tapparo – Abbotsford RFC
- Alli Dobson – Abbotsford RFC/UBC
- Bella Anderton-Teasdale – Cowichan RFC/Castaway Wanderers/UVIC
- Belle Rousseau – James Bay AA
- Caitlin Pearce – Castaway Wanderers/UBC
- Ellie Brandwood – James Bay AA
- Emilie Brett – Abbotsford RFC/UVIC
- Emily Wang-Yixue – United Rugby/UBC
- Fiea Marsh – TORA/U of A
- Gwenlili Jones – Crimson Tide
- Hannah Hibbs – Langley RFC/TWU
- Harper May – Castaway Wanderers
- Kam Howlett – Abbotsford RFC/TWU
- Lanae Davenport – Abbotsford RFC/UBC
- Mary Sieker – TORA/UBC
- Mya Koleba – TORA/UBC
- Poppy-Anne Elcock – United Rugby
- Sadie Williams – CV Rapids Rugby
- Sasha McKee – Langley RFC
- Savannah Pelletier – Abbotsford RFC/UBC
- Saylor Pickrell – Crimson Tide/UBC
- Shayla Stigant – CV Rapids Rugby
- Sophie Hayes – Castaway Wanderers
- Taylor Gotto – James Bay AA
Head Coach: Jake Thiel (UBC Thunderbirds/UBCOB Ravens)
Assistant Coaches: Jordan McLeod (UBC Thunderbirds), Jenna Elidoros (Yeti Rugby/TORA)
Therapist: Jenny Miller (Meraloma RFC)
Team Schedule:
- July 22: W 19-0 vs Atlantic
- July 24: W 25-5 vs. Alberta Wolfpack
- July 25: W 34-0 vs Rugby Quebec
- July 27: W 17-10 vs Rugby Ontario Blues
BC BEARS 17-10 RUGBY ONTARIO
BC BEARS 34-0 RUGBY QUEBEC
BC BEARS 25-5 ALBERTA WOLFPACK
BC BEARS 19-0 ATLANTIC
INSPIRED BY HISTORY – THE 2025 BC BEARS XVs KIT
The BC Bears U19 XVs will be showcasing the new 2025 playing kit by O’Neills Sportswear during the CRCs!
Working collaboratively with our partners, O’Neills, the new 2025 playing jersey showcases a formidable return to white, inspired by the great BC Representative teams of the 1950s and 1960s.
The bold jersey is a nod to the heritage of our Representative teams, which culminated in a famous 8-3 victory over the British & Irish Lions in Vancouver in 1966, and is sublimated with a modern design. The jersey features a classic navy collar and navy/gold trim on the sleeves, with a clean white/gold trim on the playing shorts.
Check out more photos and the full story here!
BC Rugby
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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.
