BC Rugby is delighted to announce the 2026 BC Bears Coaches that will lead our U17 and U19 Provincial Representative XVs Programs throughout the year.
With 2026 set to be another pivotal year for our Provincial Representatives XVs Teams, we are excited to appoint the following BC Bears Coaches that will lead the identification, selection and preparation of our U17 and U19 athletes to represent the BC Bears in competition this summer.
Coaches will utilize Club, High School and Regional Programming and will focus on the 2026 BC Rugby PRCs to identify talent for selection to the BC Bears teams, in accordance with the BC Bears Age-Grade Selection Policy. Identified athletes will be encouraged to compete for their respective regions in the Provincial Regional Leagues and Provincial Regional Championships (PRCs) this summer.
Coaches who will lead the U15 Boys and Girls “Build a Bear” Camps at Shawnigan Lake School on July 26-31, 2026 will be announced once confirmed by BC Rugby.
Additionally, the 2026 BC Summer Games will take place in Kelowna this summer and will once again feature a U17 Girls Rugby 7s competition. Zone coaches will be asked to work closely with Regional Coaching Leads and coordinate joint training opportunities where possible. However, athletes must prepare to choose one competition with BC Bears programming and the BC Summer Games taking place across the same dates.
Interested in sponsoring a BC Bears Program? Reach out to BC Rugby CEO, Matthew Carter, at mcarter@bcrugby.com
2026 BC Bears Age-Grade XVs Coaches
U17 Girls
Head Coach: Dean Murten (UBC/Vancouver Thunderbirds/Rugby Canada)
Assistant Coach: Julia Sugawara (TWU Spartans/Burnaby Lake RFC)
Assistant Coach: Maria Gallo (UBC Thunderbirds/Rugby Canada)
U17 Boys
Head Coach: Jamie McKenzie (TORA/UVIC Vikes)
Assistant Coach: Noah Pryce-Baff (Kats RFC)
Assistant Coach: Patryk Zuk (Capilano RFC)
U17 PROGRAMMING
The BC Bears U17 Boys and Girls XVs teams will return to Ontario this July 18-26 to face Rugby Ontario’s U17 XVs Programs in the newly-established O’Neill’s Challenge Cup. The Bears won both Cups in 2025 and will be looking to retain them at Guelph University this summer with fresh Coaches at the helm. Canada U20 Head Coach and UBC Women Head Coach, Dean Murten, will lead the Girls’ side, with Jamie McKenzie heading the Boys.
U19 Girls
Head Coach: Jake Thiel (UBCOB Ravens/Vancouver Thunderbirds)
Assistant Coach: Scott Hunter (Abbotsford RFC)
Assistant Coach: TBC
U19 Boys
Head Coach: Curry Hitchborn (Capilano RFC/VRU)
Assistant Coach: Didier Banse (UBC Thunderbirds)
Assistant Coach: Nate Mantle (Bayside Sharks RFC)
U19 PROGRAMMING
The BC Bears U19 Men’s and Women’s teams will head east to Ontario to contest the 2026 Canadian Rugby Championships on July 18-26, continuing BC’s proud tradition of competing on the national stage. Under Jake Thiel, the BC Bears U19 Women will travel as defending champions, while the Bears U19 Men will be aiming to go one better than their silver-medal finish in 2025.
U15 “Build a Bear” & Coach Development Camp
Following the success of last year’s Build a Bear Development Camps, athletes will again be invited through regional nominations in 2026. This Camp has proven to be an excellent environment for developing positional understanding and core skillsets, with specialty Coaches delivering position-specific expertise.
For 2026, we also plan to extend invitations to Regional and Club Coaches interested in developing their knowledge of coaching technical and positional skills, providing an opportunity for them to observe expert technical coaches delivering sessions to U15 Bears athletes throughout the week.
SUPPORT THE BC BEARS!
The BC Bears Player Subsidy Program provides financial support to players in need who are selected to represent BC Bears Age-Grade teams, in the form of discounts applied against team fees.
Since its launch in 2017, BC Rugby has provided over $200,000 of support through the BC Bears Player Subsidy Program to help ease the financial cost of playing representative Rugby.
Make a difference – DONATE to the BC Bears Player Subsidy Program and ensure no athlete misses out on representing BC due to financial barriers!
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 BC jersey and make memories – and friendships – that last a lifetime.
The 2025 BC Bears season was our biggest yet, generating a massive FIVE MILLION social media impressions! To inquire about sponsoring a BC Bears Age-Grade Program helping to offset the costs to young athletes, please email mcarter@bcrugby.com.
You can learn more about our Sponsorship Opportunities here.
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.
