The 2026 BC Rugby Saratoga Cup takes place this August 8-9 weekend – here is everything you need to know about the event!
This year’s tournament, hosted in Fernie, features two full days of action that will see Men’s and Women’s Champions crowned in our annual summer season finale.
A staple of the BC Rugby calendar, the Saratoga Cup brings together the top Senior Men’s and Women’s teams from across the Central Interior, Okanagan and Kootenays regions for an exciting weekend of Championship Rugby in a festival-style setting. With the stunning Kootenays and Rocky Mountains as this year’s backdrop, it is sure to be an incredible weekend of rugby.
Matches will take place at the Max Turyk Community Centre (897 Mt Washburn St, Fernie, BC, V0B 1M3) on Saturday, August 8 and Sunday, August 9. The Men’s XVs competition features semi-finals and finals, with the Women’s 7s competition being played over a round robin/seeded-play-off format.
Four teams will contest the Men’s Saratoga Cup while six teams will battle it out for the Women’s Saratoga Cup. Both events will be livestreamed on the BC Rugby YouTube channel.
See below for the full breakdown including schedule, livestreams and more!
EVENT DETAILS
Venue: Max Turyk Community Centre (897 Mt Washburn St, Fernie, BC, V0B 1M3)
Venue Map: Please see the above venue map.
Dates: August 8-9, 2026
Parking: Parking is available at the venue.
Merchandise: BC Rugby will be selling Saratoga Cup & BC Rugby Merchandise at the event.
Men’s Saratoga Cup Line-Up
- Vernon Jackals RFC (Okanagan Division Winners/Defending Champions)
- Terrace Northmen RFC (Central Interior Division Winners)
- Rocky Mountain Rogues (Kootenays Division Winners)
- Elk Valley RFC (Kootenays Division Runners-Up/Hosts)
In the Men’s XVs Competition, hosts Elk Valley RFC will be joined by Kootenay Division winners and close rivals Rocky Mountain Rogues, who will be hoping to reassert their dominance in a competition they won three times from 2021-2023. Defending champions Vernon Jackals RFC, who defeated Yeti Rugby in the Okanagan Final, will be out to make it successive Championships and start their own dynasty. Terrace Northmen RFC completes the line-up as Central Interior Division winners and will be looking to add another Saratoga Cup victory to match their Men’s/Women’s double in 2024.
Women’s Saratoga Cup Line-Up
- Elk Valley RFC
- Rocky Mountain Rogues
- Penticton Harlequins
- Trail RFC
- Yeti Rugby
- Valhalla Valkyries
The 2026 Women’s Saratoga Cup Women’s 7s Saratoga Cup competition will see six teams compete for glory in Fernie. Hosts Elk Valley RFC will be joined by the Rocky Mountain Rogues, who will both be aiming to lift the trophy for the first time. Defending champions Yeti Rugby are aiming for a second successive Championship. Penticton Harlequins will be competing for the third successive year, with Trail RFC attending its second straight Saratoga Cup. The line-up is completed by newcomers, Valhalla Valkyries.
SCHEDULE & LIVESTREAMS
The 2026 Saratoga Cup will be livestreamed by BC Rugby and available to watch on our YouTube channel – click below for the Playlist.
The 2026 Saratoga Cup Schedule is as follows:
DAY 1 (ALL TIMES MDT)
10:00am – Women’s RR1 – Elk Valley vs. Penticton Harlequins
10:20am – Women’s RR2 – Trail RFC vs Rocky Mountain
10:40am – Women’s RR3 – Yeti Rugby vs. Valhalla Valkyries
11:00am – BREAK
11:40am – Women’s RR4 – Rocky Mountain vs. Elk Valley
12:00pm – Women’s RR5 – Valhalla Valkyries vs. Trail RFC
12:20pm – Women’s RR6 – Penticton Harlequins vs. Yeti Rugby
12:45pm – Men’s Semi-Final 1 – Rocky Mountain Rogues vs. Terrace RFC
2:00pm – Women’s RR7 – Yeti Rugby vs. Elk Valley
2:20pm – Women’s RR8 – Trail RFC vs. Penticton Harlequins
2:40pm – Women’s RR9 – Valhalla Valkyries vs. Rocky Mountain
3:05pm – Men’s Semi-Final 2 – Vernon Jackals RFC vs. Elk Valley RFC
DAY 2 (ALL TIMES MDT)
10:00am – Women’s RR10 – Penticton Harlequins vs. Rocky Mountain
10:20am – Women’s RR11 – Yeti Rugby vs. Trail RFC
10:40am – Women’s RR12 – Elk Valley vs. Valhalla Valkyries
11:00am – BREAK
11:40am – Women’s RR13 – Rocky Mountain vs. Yeti Rugby
12:00pm – Women’s RR14 – Valhalla Valkyries vs. Penticton Harlequins
12:20pm – Women’s RR15 – Trail RFC vs. Elk Valley
12:45pm – Men’s 3rd-Place Match
2:00pm – Women’s 5th-Place Final
2:20pm – Women’s 3rd-Place Final
2:40pm – Women’s Saratoga Cup Final
3:05pm – Men’s Saratoga Cup Final
4:15pm – Presentations
MATCH OFFICIALS
The 2026 Saratoga Cup Officiating Team is as follows:
Chris Assmus – Referee
Ben Lambrick – Referee
Ryan Lambrick – Referee
Phil Webster – Referee
Joel van Meer – Referee
Cam Mercer – Referee
Joyce Kendon – Referee
Darren Cho – Assistant Referee/Tech Zone Manager
Min Merritt – Assistant Referee/Tech Zone Manager
John Merritt – Assistant Referee/Tech Zone Manager
Georgia Webster – Tech Zone Manager
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.
