Four champions were crowned at an epic 2024 BC Rugby Age-Grade Club Finals event in Langford on Sunday.
The atmosphere was electric at Starlight Stadium as Provincial Champions were decided across BC Rugby’s U16 and U18 Girls and Boys Divisions.
Teams and supporters braved the chilly elements and battled it out in front of a passionate crowd.
CV Rapids Rugby celebrated a historic double in the U16 and U18 Girls categories, with the Comox Club winning its first two Championships since forming four years ago.
Abbotsford RFC defeated Castaway Wanderers in the U16 Boys Final, while Castaway Wanderers got revenge on back-to-back and defending champions UBCOB Ravens in the U18 Boys Final to keep the Championship trophy in Oak Bay.
BC Rugby streamed all four Finals from the day’s event – they are available to watch on YouTube here.
A full photo gallery, courtesy of event photographer BOLD Photos by Shelly, will be available this week – keep your eyes on our social media channels for more!
Meanwhile, Axemen RFC were crowned U18 Mainland Regional Boys Gold Medal Winners with a 31-15 win over Bayside Sharks RFC to finish their season unbeaten.
BC Rugby acknowledges that the 2024 BC Rugby Age-Grade Club Finals takes place on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish, specifically Esquimalt, Songhees, Scia’new, and the WSÁNEĆ peoples represented by the Tsartlip, Pauquachin, Tsawout, Tseycum and Malahat Nations.
All photos courtesy of BOLD Photos by Shelly
THRILLING DAY AT STARLIGHT STADIUM
Abbotsford RFC won the opening Final of the day to lift the U16 Boys Championship. The Fraser Valley team scored two first-half tries to keep Castaway Wanderers at bay.
The Wanderers hit back with a well worked try and kicked the conversion to move it into a three-point game in the dying stages. However, the Abbotsford defence held firm for a famous win.
CV Rapids Rugby won their first ever Championship since formation with 29-7 victory over Abbotsford RFC in the U16 Girls Final.
The Rapids produced a fantastic performance to stun their Mainland rivals, building on a 14-7 half-time lead with a flurry of second half tries to finish an intense and thrilling final in style.
Castaway Wanderers, meanwhile, got revenge on the UBCOB Ravens in the U18 Boys Final to lift the 2024 Championship. Wanderers, beaten finalists at the hands of the Ravens at UBC last year, came up trumps in a fantastic Final that showcased some excellent Rugby and win 36-31.
Ravens started strongly to take an early lead, but Castaway grew into the game with a spell of thrilling Rugby that saw them inch ahead. Both teams traded blows, but it was Castaway who finished the game strong with two impressive tries in the final 10 minutes to pull clear. Ravens scored the final try of the match to inch closer but the Oak Bay side held firm for a fantastic win.
CV Rapids Rugby finished a fantastic day of Rugby as they came back to edge a tight U18 Girls Final 12-10 to secure a historic double.
Abbotsford scored two first-half tries to lead 10-0 at the break but the Rapids showed incredible heart and determination to complete a famous comeback under the Starlight Stadium floodlights.
A slick score and conversion moved the Rapids within three points, before a late try from their captain in the far corner sealed Championship victory.
THANK YOU FROM BC RUGBY
BC Rugby would like to thank all groups and individuals who made the 2024 Age-Grade Club Finals possible: to our Match Officials, Coaching Staff, Therapists and Medics, Players, parents, volunteers and vendors – thank you for your hard work and commitment in helping grow the game throughout the province.
Thank you to our trophy and medal presenters: Rugby Canada Senior National Team Athletes Larah Wright, Eden Kilgour, Noah Flesch, and Elias Hancock, BC Rugby President Bob Strachan, BC Rugby Vice President (Finance) Tony Payne and BC Rugby CEO David Newson.
Thank you to our official event photographer, Shelly Fey, for capturing the day’s events!
Thank you to our Official Merchandise Partners, O’Neills, for their continued support and awesome BC Rugby merchandise!
Finally – thank you to our sponsors and partners for their commitment in helping grow our sport: the Provincial Government of British Columbia, viaSport, Rugby Canada, O’Neills, Gilbert Rugby Canada, Blonyx, and Jumpstart.
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support from the Province of British Columbia.
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.
