BC Rugby is delighted to announce that registration is now open for athletes interested in participating in the upcoming BC Bears Senior Women’s Blue vs. Gold Series.

Working collaboratively with Rugby Canada’s Senior Women’s Programming, BC Rugby is hosting a three-match Blue vs. Gold Series throughout May and June this year.

The Series will see selected sides of the Island Blues and Mainland Golds battle it out in Victoria and North Vancouver. Matches will be used to prepare and showcase senior female athletes for selection to the Senior Women’s National Team ahead of 2024 Programming.

Dean Murten (UBC Thunderbirds and Canada U20 Women’s Head Coach) will lead the Mainland Gold team, with Brittany Waters (UVIC) heading the Island Blues team.

Athletes will have the chance to showcase themselves at two identification sessions on both the Island and Mainland. Registration for the initial Identification Sessions is $30 (covers both sessions).

Following the conclusion of all Identification Sessions, 30 selected athletes for both Blue and Gold teams will be invited to attend training sessions in their respective regions. Registration for selected athletes will be $100 to help cover Program costs and field hire. All ID Session and Training Session dates are listed below.

Matches will then take place on the following dates:

• Game 1: May 25, 2024 – Wallace Field, University of Victoria – 1:00pm PST kickoff
• Game 2: June 1, 2024 – Klahanie Park (Capilano Rugby Club) – 1:00pm PST kickoff
• Game 3: June 8, 2024 – Wallace Field, University of Victoria – 12:00pm PST kickoff

“After a great competition last year, it’s great to have the BC Rugby Union Blue v Gold Senior Women’s Series back again with one added game. I thought the quality of play last year was very high considering the lack of time the athletes had to prepare. This is a great competition to help prepare the athletes for National Senior and Age-Grade Women’s international competition. I am looking forward to seeing two great teams play three hard physical games.” Canada U20 Women’s Head Coach and Mainland Gold Head Coach Dean Murten

“BC boasts incredible athletes competing in Club and University programs, and these three games will be a great opportunity to showcase their talent and to put their hands up for national programs.” Island Blues Head Coach Brittany Waters

“These games are endorsed by Rugby Canada as an annual pathway competition now for our best domestic players to compete in. With the expansion of this best-on-best Series to a third game to further develop and identify athletes for the National U20 and Senior Women’s campaigns that follow it, we aim to provide a platform for our BC-based athletes to showcase and put themselves forward for consideration.” BC Rugby Technical Director John Tait