BC Rugby  – Markham, ON – July 19, 2016: For the second year in a row, and for a remarkable fourth time in the last five years, the BC Rugby U19 Men’s Fifteens Team has captured a Canadian Rugby Championship (CRC) Title.

The defending champions came into the final game of the 2016 CRC tournament needing a win over the Prairie Wolf Pack, and were able to secure a 31-10 victory in the pivotal contest. While the Wolf Pack were able to keep within striking distance throughout the first half, BC showed both their confidence and depth of talent as the match progressed, pulling away in the game’s final 30 minutes.

Callum Botchar, Elias Ergas, Connor Sampson and Jake Thiel all scored tries for BC, while fly half Ben Scher was able to add three penalties and a conversion. David Ralph had the lone try in response for the Wolf Pack.

“We knew coming into this that our team would have to rely on one another heavily, to be patient and to enjoy themselves,” said BC Rugby U19 Men’s XV Team Coach, Curry Hitchborn. “The coaching staff had confidence in the players, and they did a great job of supporting each other on the field. They worked hard together and got the result they wanted.”

BC’s stellar performance under pressure was also exemplified earlier in the tournament, as they were able to successfully rebuff a determined effort from a very strong Ontario Blues side on Saturday. BC came away from that contest with a vital 19-10 victory, which set up Tuesday’s title shot against the Prairies.

The BC Rugby U20 Women’s XV Team finished the Canadian Rugby Championship in fourth place, following a narrow 22-15 loss to Nova Scotia in Tuesday’s bronze medal game. Gupreet Dhaliwal, Madison Gold and Kristine Osachuk scored BC’s tries, but they were unable to match Nova Scotia’s four-try tally earned through Coline Ramade (2), Danielle Cormier and Tasha McKenzie.
 
BC Rugby U19 Men’s Fifteens Team Roster
Donald Carson from Vancouver, BC (UBC Thunderbirds)
Callum Botchar from Vancouver, BC (UBC Thunderbirds)
Liam Doll from North Vancouver, BC (UBC Thunderbirds)
Liam Mahon from West Vancouver (UVic Vikes)
Chase Taylor-Robins from West Vancouver (UBC Thunderbirds)
Malcolm Klaver from North Vancouver (Capilano RFC)
Fraser Hurst from Vancouver, BC (Canterbury, NZ)
Matt Anderson from North Vancouver (UBC Thunderbirds)
Jake Thiel from Abbotsford, BC (Abbotsford RFC)
Josh Thiel from Abbotsford, BC (Abbotsford RFC)
Nick Frost from West Vancouver, BC (UBC Thunderbirds)
Noah Bain from Abbotsford, BC (UVic Vikes)
Elias Ergas from North Vancouver (Collingwood Secondary School)
Thomas Heuser from Sardis, BC
Liam Sullivan from Surrey, BC (Bayside Sharks)
Michael Smith from Surrey, BC (Earl Marriott Secondary School)
Liam Morrison from Surrey, BC (UVic Vikes / Bayside Sharks)
Aaron Hersant from Victoria, BC (UVic Vikes)
John Jubenvil from Surrey, BC (Earl Marriott Secondary School)
Jake Lan from West Vancouver (Capilano RFC)
Connor Sampson from Vancouver, BC (Burnaby Lake RC)
Gavin Kratz from Victoria, BC (UVic Vikes)
Ben Scher from Vancouver, BC (Durham University)
Spencer Cooper from Vancouver, BC (St. George’s / Rowers)
Anton NgoNgo from Victoria, BC (Castaway Wanderers)

Coach: Curry Hitchborn (UBC Thunderbirds / Capilano RFC)
Coach: Ken Erikson (GP Vanier)
Manager: John Smith
 
U19 Men’s Schedule and Results
July 15 – BC Rugby 25-15 Voyageurs 
July 16 – BC Rugby 19-10 Rugby Ontario
July 17 – BC Rugby 36-15 Atlantic Rock
July 19 – BC Rugby 31-10 Prairie Wolf Pack

BC Rugby U20 Women’s Fifteens Team Roster
Maira Acevedo from Surrey, BC (Bayside Sharks)
Adel Arndt from Merville, BC (Comox Valley Kickers)
Chloe Baird-Titcomb from Hornby Island, BC (Comox Valley Kickers)
Tanika Bonneville from Surrey, BC (Bayside Sharks)
Mackenzie Carson from Abbottsford, BC (Abbottsford RFC)
Nicole Crowley from Victoria, BC (UVIC / Westshore)
Gupreet Dhaliwal from Abbotsford, BC (UVic Vikes)
Taya Gagnon from Courtenay, BC (GP Vanier /Comox Valley Kickers)
Madison Gold from Merville, BC (UBC Thunderbirds)
Taiid Haines-Young from White Rock, BC (Bayside Sharks)
Ashlynn Jackson from Duncan, BC (UVic Vikes / Westshore RFC)
Natasha Johnson from 150 Mile House, BC (UBC-Okanagan / Kelowna Crows)
Sofie Kennedy from North Saanich, BC (Castaway Wanderers RC)
Delaney Martin from Cobble Hill, BC (Brentwood College School)
Camila Maslo from Surrey, BC (Burnaby Lake RC)
Brooke Miller from Salmon Arm, BC (Kamloops Raiders RC)
Hannah Morten from Duncan, BC (St. FX University)
Kristine Osachuk from Campbell River, BC (Lindenwood University)
Olivia Peers from Surrey, BC (Bayside Sharks)
Kendra Penner from Penticton, BC (Unattached)
Lauren Sargent from Courtenay, BC (Castaway Wanderers RC)
Avi Sharabi from Mill Bay, BC (Brentwood College School)
Olivia Thoen from Port Alberni, BC (Nanaimo Hornets RFC)
Shaye Tudor from Victoria, BC (Castaway Wanderers RC)
Tess Woldring from Burnaby (Burnaby Lake RC)
 
U20 Women’s Schedule and Results
July 14 – BC Rugby 5-60 Rugby Ontario
July 15 – BC Rugby 12-29 Prairie Wolf Pack
July 16 – BC Rugby 10-17 Nova Scotia Keltics
July 18 – BC Rugby 10-46 Rugby Ontario
July 19 – BC Rugby 15-22 Nova Scotia Keltics

Coach: Dave Grisdale (Cowichan RFC)
Assistant Coach: Walt Brandl (Burnaby Lake RC)      
Manager: Mike Flynn (Brentwood College School)      
Physiotherapist – Morgan Sangster

Competition Details:
The Canadian Rugby Championship (CRC) is the highest level domestic competition for representative fifteens rugby teams. The Men’s Under-19 CRC is contested by Provincial representative teams from two Provincial Rugby Unions and three Regional Teams: BC Rugby, Rugby Ontario, the Prairie Wolf Pack, the Atlantic Rock, and the Voyageurs. The Women’s Under-20 CRC is contested by BC Rugby, Rugby Ontario, the Nova Scotia Keltics and the Prairie Wolf Pack.

Event Details:
Location: Fletchers’ Field, Markham, ON
Dates: July 14-19

Scores and updates:
The Canadian Rugby Championship website – canadianrugbychampionship.com – features the final standings tables, results and boxscores from both the Men’s U19 and Women’s U20 tournaments.
 

More information about BC Rugby
The British Columbia Rugby Union, commonly known as BC Rugby, is the governing body for Rugby in British Columbia and is a Provincial Union of Rugby Canada, the national governing body. Representing over 7,500 individuals registered through more than 50 Member Clubs and Associations across the Province, BC Rugby leads and manages the sport with the aim to grow participation and develop excellence in all games of Rugby and in all facets of the sport.
 
Web: bcrugby.com
Twitter: twitter.com/bcrugbyunion
Facebook: facebook.com/bcrugbyunion

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For further information about BC Rugby or this event, contact:
 
Brendan Munro
Communications Manager – BC Rugby 
Tel: +1- 604-737-3070
Cell: +1-604-349-3104
bmunro@bcrugby.com