BC Rugby is delighted to announce the BC Bears U16-18 Boys XVs Squads and BC Bears U18 Girls XVs Top 40 Training Squad that will compete this July.

The BC Bears U18 and U16 Boys XVs teams will host the Eagle Impact Rugby Academy (EIRA) for an exciting two-match Series at in Vancouver on July 15-20. Game 1 will take place at UBC’s Gerald McGavin Centre on July 18, with Game 2 taking place at Burnaby Lake Rugby Club on July 20 as a curtain raiser to the Vancouver Highlanders Senior Men’s match against Germany. The BC Bears U18 Boys will then travel to Chuckanut Polo Grounds on August 10 to face the Pacific Northwest Loggers in a return fixture, having hosted the Loggers last summer.

The BC Bears U18 Girls XVs Squad will undergo a Top 40 Training Camp at UBC on July 15-20, 2024, culminating in a two-match Blue vs. Gold Series. Game 1 will take place on July 18 at UBC, with Game 2 taking place on July 20 at UBC. The Camp will develop promising U18 female athletes ahead of the 2025 U19 Canadian Rugby Championships.

Squad selections have been made following the 2024 Provincial Regional Championships, with the BC Bears U16-U18 Teams now preparing for the start of their respective Training Camps at UBC on July 15.

“Spring boarding off a high level of play at the BC High School Boys Provincial Championships, it was so exciting to see many of these athletes representing their regions at the BC Rugby Provincial Regional Championships. The gold and bronze medal finals, as well as games throughout the tournament, allowed us as Coaches to watch some exciting, skilled Rugby. This also confirmed to Rob (Hayes) and I that we have the opportunity to coach talented and enthusiastic young athletes. We are looking forward to having this group, representing all parts of the province, at camp, to empower these players to become better in their specialized roles on the field, prepare them for the next level of rugby and support their growth as leaders both on and off the pitch.” BC Bears U16 Boys Head Coach Leana Marton 

“We are excited to host and compete against the formidable EIRA team. The U18 Bears aim to identify, grow, and prepare pathway athletes for the U19 Bears and the U20 Canada Selection next year. Success means bringing together players chosen from the PRCs pathway under the guidance of experienced coaches and trainers, building their individual rugby skills in camp, and using high-level opposition to test their abilities and resilience. Part of this development stage is learning to win or training to win. While the results are not the main focus, the U18 team will need to employ tactical approaches that give them the best chance to win. Playing two games against the same opponent back-to-back provides a unique opportunity to review, refine, and adjust tactics for the second game. This experience is invaluable as our athletes progress to U19 and U20 levels, where winning becomes crucial in national and international competitions.” BC Bears U18 Head Coach Jonathan Mergui

Our teams will proudly wear playing and training kit manufactured by our partner, O’Neills – keep an eye on the BC Rugby social media channels for the kit release soon! Founded in 1918, O’Neills is renowned for its commitment to quality and innovation across the globe.

The BC Bears U18 and U16 Boys XVs and BC Bears U18 Girls Training Squad are as follows: