Seven champions were crowned at the 2025 BC Rugby Senior Club Finals as a bumper crowd enjoyed an action-packed day at Abbotsford Exhibition Park on Saturday.
BC Rugby’s Senior Club Finals featured seven Provincial Championship matches as the 2024/25 Senior Club season came to a thrilling climax, with seven teams earning the bragging rights in their respective leagues to cap what has been a hectic season across BC’s Lower Mainland.
UBCOB Ravens were crowned champions of the Men’s Premier League and lifted the historic Rounsefell Cup for the second successive season, while Vancouver Thunderbirds made it a four-peat of Women’s Premier League titles.
Comox Valley Kickers successfully defended its Women’s Division 2 Championship, while Meraloma RFC regained the Women’s Division 1 title. Burnaby Lake RFC clinched the Men’s Division 1 Championship, with Kamloops Rugby Club and Langley Rugby Club celebrating Championship victories in Men’s Division 2 and Men’s Division 3 respectively.
The atmosphere was electric in Abbotsford as teams battled it out in perfect conditions, with over 1500 fans enjoying a festival of Rugby throughout the day.
Below is a round-up from each Final. Photos courtesy of BOLD Photos by Shelly and Rick MacDonald Photography.
BC Rugby would like to issue a huge thank you to all Officials, volunteers, therapists, and vendors who made this event a special day.
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MEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
UBCOB Ravens 33-24 UBC Thunderbirds
UBCOB Ravens successfully defended its Men’s Premier League title with a battling 33-24 victory over UBC Thunderbirds to retain the Rounsefell Cup.
In a topsy-turvy encounter, both teams enjoyed early tries before the Ravens enjoyed a dominant first half spell to pull clear. However, UBC hit back shortly before the break to limit their opponents lead to three points.
The second half proved a tight affair, with both teams trading penalties as the nerves began to take their toll. However, Ravens held firm despite some late UBC pressure and pulled clear to secure a second successive Rounsefell Cup.
ROAD TO THE FINAL:
Ravens saw off the challenge of Westshore RFC in the semifinals, while UBC Thunderbirds defeated the 2024 Runners-Up Meraloma RFC in a tightly-contested semifinal. Ravens went into Saturday’s Final undefeated against UBC this season, having beaten Thunderbirds 29-10 and held them to a 38-38 draw in their regular season encounters.
WOMEN’S PREMIER LEAGUE
Vancouver Thunderbirds 43-17 Westshore RFC
Vancouver Thunderbirds made it four successive BC Rugby Women’s Premier League titles with an impressive 43-17 win over Westshore RFC.
The Thunderbirds were dominant throughout, well skilled and well drilled as they once again lifted the Gordon Harris Memorial Trophy.
A flurry of first half tries gave the Thunderbirds a 17-5 first half lead, but spirited defending from Westshore kept them in range. However, Thunderbirds stepped up a gear and pulled clear in the second half before Westshore finished strongly to reduce the deficit.
ROAD TO THE FINAL
Vancouver Thunderbirds brushed past Burnaby Lake RFC in the semifinals to keep hopes of a four-peat alive, while Westshore RFC saw off the challenge of Oak Bay-based rivals Castaway Wanderers RFC in an all-Island semifinal. Vancouver Thunderbirds defeated Westshore RFC 58-0 in their regular season meet.
MEN’S DIVISION 1
Nanaimo Hornets RFC 7-29 Burnaby Lake RFC
Burnaby Lake RFC claimed the Men’s Division 1 Championship with an impressive 29-7 victory over Nanaimo Hornets RFC.
The Hornets had less than a week to prepare after advancing to the Final following a semi-final default, and gave a strong Burnaby side a run for its money.
Both teams showed excellent attack and defence, with it being a much tighter game than the scoreline suggested.
Victory proved a fitting tribute for Burnaby, who suffered the loss of Club stalwart Steve Baron earlier this year. Steve’s son, Sean, and grandson, Brayden, presented the trophy to Steve’s beloved Burnaby in what was a fitting tribute to a true BC Rugby legend.
ROAD TO THE FINAL
Nanaimo Hornets RFC advanced to the Final following a quarter-final win against Port Alberni Black Sheep and semifinal default win over James Bay AA, while Burnaby Lake RFC beat top seeds Meraloma RFC in the quarterfinals before clinching a close victory over #2-seeded UBCOB Ravens in the semifinals.
WOMEN’S DIVISION 1
Meraloma RFC 24-14 Abbotsford
Meraloma RFC regained the Women’s Division 1 Championship in style with a hard-fought 26-14 win over home side Abbotsford RFC.
The Clash of the Titans pitted the two highest-seeded teams in Division 1, and they did not disappoint in front of a big crowd supporting both sides.
Meraloma started strong against a young Abbotsford side, with a quick try, before Abbotsford held firm until the dying minutes of the opening half. Meraloma capitalised towards the end of the first period to lead 14-0 at the break.
Abbotsford got on the board early in the second half with a well-worked try, but Meraloma restored the advantage with a third try. Abbotsford pushed hard to reduce the deficit once more but a late score for Lomas sealed Championship victory in style.
ROAD TO THE FINAL
The Women’s Division 1 Final pits the top two seeds from the regular season, with #1-ranked Meraloma RFC aiming for its second Championship in three years against the home side Abbotsford RFC. The Lomas have had a phenomenal season to date and remain unbeaten in their 15 matches from regular season and Playoffs, defeating Capilano RFC in the semifinals. Hosts Abbotsford finished second in the table, dropping twice to Meraloma RFC in their regular season encounters. Abbotsford saw off the challenge of #3 seeds James Bay in the semifinals.
MEN’S DIVISION 2
Kamloops RFC 45-22 Brit Lions
The BC Rugby Men’s Division 2 Trophy is heading to Kamloops as the Raiders put last year’s Final heartbreak behind them with a resounding 45-22 win against Brit Lions RFC.
Kamloops, beaten by Axemen in last year’s Championship match, put in a superb performance to dominate proceedings from the get-go and raced into a 30-7 lead by half time.
Brit Lions enjoyed a spirited fight back in the second half, but the Raiders proved too strong in the end.
ROAD TO THE FINAL
Kamloops RFC beat Chilliwack Crusaders RFC and Richmond RFC to book their spot in the Final for the second successive season, while Brit Lions RFC dispatched #3 seeds Kelowna and #2-ranked Kats RFC in an impressive Playoff campaign.
WOMEN’S DIVISION 2
Comox Valley Kickers 61-0Nanaimo Hornets RFC
Comox Valley Kickers successfully defended its Women’s Division 2 Championship title with a big 61-0 win over a spirited Nanaimo Hornets RFC.
The Kickers will be returning to Vancouver Island with trophy in hand after a resounding performance saw them dominate an all-North Island Final.
Comox enjoyed a fine first half, running up a 25-0 lead before the interval. Despite a resurgence from Hornets defence, Comox ran riot in the second half with a string of unanswered scores to seal the shutout win.
ROAD TO THE FINAL
Comox saw off Vancouver Rowing Club and Kelowna Crows RFC in the Playoffs, while 2023 Champions Nanaimo defeated SFU Rugby and the Chilliwack Crusaders RFC to advance. The final was nicely poised, with both teams tasting victory in their two regular season matches.
MEN’S DIVISION 3
Langley RFC 23-12 Burnaby Lake RFC
Langley Rugby Club claimed the BC Rugby Men’s Division 3 title after they edged Burnaby Lake RFC 23-12 in a close encounter.
Both teams started like a rocket before fatigue hit midway through the first half, with Langley making the only scores of the half to take an 8-0 lead into the break.
Langley doubled its lead with a try and well-taken penalty before Burnaby hit back in to put late pressure on their opponents. However, Langley saw off a final roll of the dice from Burnaby to score victory and bragging rights for this year at least.
ROAD TO THE FINAL
#4-seeded Burnaby Lake RFC toppled top-seeded Bayside Sharks RFC in the semifinals, having already seen off #5-ranked Capilano RFC in the quarterfinals. #2-seeded Langley RFC were awarded a bye to the semifinals, where they defeated #3-ranked Axemen RFC to reach this weekend’s Championship match.
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