BC Rugby is delighted to announce the appointment of the BC Bears Coaches for our 2024 Age-Grade Representative Programs.
Following a successful 2023 for BC Rugby’s Age-Grade Representative XVs and 7s Programs, including three Championship victories and a silver medal at the 2023 Western Canadian Championships and an impressive showing at the 2023 Global Youth Sevens Australia, we are excited to confirm the Coaches who will lead BC Bears U19, U18 and U16 Boys and Girls XVs Programs and Girls and Boys 7s Programs for 2024.
Greg Clague (Westshore RFC) will lead the U19 Men alongside Dan Haynes (UBC Okanagan) and Noah Pryce-Baff (Kats RFC), with BC Rugby Hall of Famer Julia Sugawara (TWU Spartans/Burnaby Lake RFC) leading the U19 Women’s Program alongside Matt Fraser (Meraloma RFC).
John Mergui (Vancouver Rowing Club RFC), Remi Anctil (Salish Sea Warriors) and Scott McGinley (Meraloma RFC) will return to work with the U18 Boys, with Jake Thiel (Canada National Men’s Sevens Team/Abbotsford RFC) and Jen Ross (James Bay AA) return to coach the U18 Girls Program.
Leana Marton (Kelowna Secondary School) and Rob Hayes (Langley RFC) will now coach the U16 Boys Program, with Sherry Spence (Cowichan RFC) leading the U16 Girls.
Darcy Patterson will continue to lead the BC Bears Girls 7s Program, with John Tait leading the BC Bears Boys 7s Program.
This year will once again see an exciting year of Provincial Representative Rugby for our junior BC Bears teams, kicking off in March with the BC Bears U16 Girls 7s heading to Florida for the 2024 Tropical 7s. BC Rugby will release a further announcement soon on the 2024 Pathways for all BC Bears teams.
Coaches will utilize Club, School and Regional Programming as well as key BC Rugby events like the 2024 VSI 7s and 2024 Provincial Regional Championships to identify talent for potential selection to the BC Bears teams, in accordance with the BC Bears Age-Grade Selection Policy.
Keep up to date with all BC Bears ID and Development Sessions on the BC Rugby website here.
BC Bears Age-Grade Coaches
U19
U19 Men
Head Coach: Greg Clague (Westshore RFC)
Assistant Coaches: Dan Haynes (UBC Okanagan) and Noah Pryce-Baff (Kats RFC)
U19 Women
Head Coach: Julia Sugawara (TWU Spartans/Burnaby Lake RFC)
Assistant Coach: Matt Fraser (Meraloma RFC)
U18
U18 Boys
Head Coach: John Mergui (Vancouver Rowing Club RFC)
Assistant Coaches: Remi Anctil (Salish Sea Warriors) and Scott McGinley (Meraloma RFC)
U18 Girls
Head Coach: Jake Thiel (National Senior Men’s 7s Athlete)
Assistant Coach: Jen Ross (James Bay AA)
U16
U16 Boys
Head Coach: Leana Marton (Kelowna Secondary School)
Assistant Coach: Rob Hayes (Langley RFC)
U16 Girls
Head Coach: Sherry Spence (Cowichan RFC)
Assistant Coach: TBC
BC BEARS BOYS AND GIRLS 7s PROGRAMS
BC Bears Girls 7s Program Lead: Darcy Patterson (Vancouver Thunderbirds)
BC Bears Boys 7s Program Lead: John Tait (BC Rugby)
SPONSOR A BC BEARS PROGRAM
Without your vital support, BC Bears Programs simply cannot happen.
Your support not only allows BC athletes to thrive on the pitch, but also to grow off it. Thanks to you, our BC Bears athletes get to put on the famous navy jersey and make memories – and friendships – that last a lifetime.
To inquire about sponsoring a BC Bears Age-Grade Program helping to offset the costs young athletes, please email BC Rugby CEO David Newson at ceo@bcrugby.com or BC Rugby Technical Director John Tait at jtait@bcrugby.com.
“Wearing the gold and blue kit as a northern athlete means a lot to me. I am dedicated to inspiring others and helping to create future opportunities for female athletes to play competitive Rugby and represent the BC Bears.” Hailey Dutchak, BC Bears U18 Girls, Fort St John
“The BC Bears programs are an amazing way not only to improve my Rugby skills, but to create new connections with Coaches, and to find lifelong friends. It is one of the things in life that I will never forget. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to do this!” Kylie Kalas, BC Bears U16 Girls, Fort St John
“My BC Bear experience has been a great opportunity that broadened my knowledge of the game and allowed me to bond with new teammates, Coaches and support staff. My involvement with BC Bears at the Western Canadian Championships and with the BC Elite 7s in New Zealand were phenomenal experiences.” Iain Anderton-Teasdale, BC Bears U16 Boys and BC Bears Elite Boys 7s, Duncan
“The bonds and connections made will last a lifetime and I am still in close contact with many of the athletes that I played alongside in the Bears program. Not only was the experience phenomenal, but it has also enabled me to further my Rugby career with access to high level coaching. This allowed me to meet Coaches from the current university team.” Brenden Mcelhinney, BC Bears U18 Boys, Langley
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.
