The 2023 Men’s Saratoga Cup line-up has been confirmed following the conclusion of the BC Rugby Central Interior and Okanagan leagues!
Following a busy summer of action across BC’s Northern and Interior regions, BC Rugby can announce the four Men’s and Women’s teams that will compete for the 2023 Saratoga in Cranbrook on August 26-27, 2023.
Both the Elk Valley Bulls RFC and the Rocky Mountain Rogues have qualified from the Kootenays Division. Terrace Northmen RFC qualify as Central Interior League winners, while Vernon Jackals RFC will complete the line-up after topping the Okanagan League.
The 2023 Saratoga Cup will feature a women’s competition, with teams and schedule set to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
2023 Saratoga Cup – Event Information
The 2023 Saratoga Cup will be hosted by 2021 and 2022 champions Rocky Mountain Rogues at the College of the Rockies in Cranbrook. The purpose of the Saratoga Cup is to foster the growth of competitive Rugby throughout the Interior and Northern regions of British Columbia and provide a final event for BC Rugby’s Summer League Competition.
The 2023 Saratoga Cup will feature both Men’s XVs and Women’s 7s competition throughout the weekend. Men’s teams will compete two semi-finals on the Saturday, with the winners advancing to Sunday’s final. Semi-final losers will contest a third-place playoff on Sunday.
Subject to teams entered, the Women’s 7s competition will likely include round-robin play on the Saturday with teams re-seeded for Sunday’s playoff matches.
BC Rugby will be recording all matches at the 2023 Saratoga Cup, and will endeavor to live-stream the full weekend.
Below is a round-up of the results for each league:
OKANAGAN LEAGUE
Vernon Jackals RFC topped the Okanagan League with three victories and one tie from four matches, following a tough tussle with the Penticton Harlequins for the No. 1 spot.
The Quins enjoyed a strong rebuild year and took the battle for a Saratoga Cup space to the last game of the season. The season kicked off with a hard-fought 15-15 tie between Quins and the Jackals, before Salmon Arm Yeti scored a 12-0 victory over Quins.
Vernon Jackals won its first match against the Yeti 36-0 before making it back-to-back wins with a 45-22 triumph over Harlequins. The Quins managed to get revenge of Salmon Arm, this time winning 28-14, before the Jackals edged the Yeti 31-27 in a four-point thriller. Jackals completed an undefeated regular season with a 35-14 win over Penticton in the Okanagan Rugby Union Final to clinch its spot at the Saratoga Cup.
CENTRAL INTERIOR LEAGUE
Terrace Northmen RFC enjoyed an unbeaten season to secure a place at the 2023 Saratoga Cup, with five wins from five matches, seeing off the challenge from Williams Lake Rustlers, Prince George Gnats and the Prince Rupert Seamen RFC.
The Rustlers kicked off the season in May with a 34-10 win over the Prince George, before all teams travelled to Williams Lake for a Club Day on May 27. Terrace saw off the home side 25-13 before the Rustlers responded with a 31-0 win over Prince Rupert. The Seamen then defeated Prince George 36-22 for its first win of the season, while Terrace finished the weekend with two wins from two matches following a 33-7 triumph over the Gnats.
Terrace travelled to Prince George and scraped through a tough match with a 17-10 win, while the Seaman then defeated the Gnats 15-7.
Williams Lake finished the season on a high with a 31-10 win over Prince George, before Terrace concluded with victorious double over Prince Rupert, winning its final macthes 26-5 and 15-5 to top the standings and advance to the Saratoga Cup.
KOOTENAY CUP
Elk Valley Bulls and the Rocky Mountain Rogues will both head to the 2023 Saratoga Cup, with the tournament being staged in the Kootenays this year.
Rugby in the Rockies is enjoying a significant rise, thanks to the tremendous efforts of both these Clubs. Rucking in the Rockies was a major highlight, with Men’s Rugby, Women’s Rugby and Junior Rugby sessions all taking place during a fantastic event.
In the 2023 Kootenay Cup, the Rogues have so far taken victory in both matches played – winning 48-0 and 20-7 – with a third and final instalment set for August 15.
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