Rugby League British Columbia

Last updated
Rugby League British Columbia
Current season or competition:
Rugby football current event.svg 2022 Rugby League British Columbia season
RLBC - Rugby League British Columbia - Logo.png
RLBC Logo (Aug. 3, 2020)
Sport Rugby league
Instituted2011
Inaugural season 2012
Number of teams8 (6 - men; 2 women)
CountryFlag of British Columbia.svg  British Columbia, Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada (Canada Rugby League)
Current Grand Final ChampionsPoint Grey Thunder (2022)
Most titles Surrey Beavers & Coastal Cougars (3 titles)
Website https://www.rugbyleaguebc.ca/

Rugby League British Columbia (or the RLBC), formerly known as British Columbia Rugby League, is a non-profit organization and a member of Canada Rugby League. RLBC operates a domestic rugby league football competition in British Columbia, Canada that currently features six teams with the addition of the Whistler Wolves for the 2020 season. [1] The RLBC, with its clubs, additionally host events and competitions involving junior club teams and women's team to expand the sport of Rugby League in the province.

Contents

Teams

The RLBC competition started in May 2012 with 5 teams, Bayside Sharks, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club, Kelowna Crows, Sea to Sky Eagles and Surrey Beavers. The RLBC operates such that its member clubs are responsible for developing teams for the purposes of competing against other clubs. Since 2012, the men's competition has expanded to 6 teams making it the largest domestic rugby league competition in Canada. The season includes the regular season, culminating in the Grand Final, and a Rugby league nines tournament prior to the regular season.

In 2020, the Vancouver Dragons and Valley Warriors developed women's teams and the RLBC was prepared for delivery of the country's first intraprovincial women's competition. The clubs are the primary source for the province's representative teams.

TeamStadiumSeasonsCity/AreaGrand Championships9's Tournament Championships
Ireland colours.svg Vancouver Valley Vipers 3 (2019–present) Langley, British Columbia (city) 00
Wellington colours.svg Coastal Cougars (formerly Sea to Sky Eagles)Howe Sound Secondary School, Squamish 10 (2012–present) Squamish, British Columbia 3 (2015, 2016, 2019) [2] 3 (2016, 2017, 2019) [2]
University colours.svg Point Grey Thunder UBC, Wolfson Rugby, Vancouver 3 (2019–present) Vancouver, British Columbia 2 (2021,2022)1 (2022)
Hemelcolours.png Valley Warriors South Surrey Athletic Park, South Surrey 8 (2014–present) South Surrey, British Columbia 1 (2017) [3] 0 [3]
St. George colours.svg Vancouver Dragons Brockton Oval Stanley Park, Vancouver 9 (2013–present) Vancouver, British Columbia 1 (2018) [4] 1 (2018) [4]
Whistler Wolves 2 (2020–present) Whistler, British Columbia 01 (2023)
Abbotsford GriffinsN/A4 (2015-2018) Abbotsford, British Columbia 00
Bayside Sharks N/A1 (2012) White Rock, British Columbia 00
Burnaby Lake Rugby Club N/A1 (2012) Burnaby, British Columbia 00
Kelowna CrowsN/A1 (2012) Kelowna, British Columbia 00
Kelowna RoostersN/A2 (2012 & 2017) Kelowna, British Columbia
Richmond BearsN/A1 (2013) Richmond, British Columbia 01 (2015) [5]
Surrey BeaversN/A4 (2012-2015) Surrey, British Columbia 3 (2012, 2013, 2014)0
Whistler WildcatsN/A1 (2014) Whistler, British Columbia 1 (2014) [6]
Vancouver ThunderbirdsN/A/1 (2015) Vancouver, British Columbia 00
Legend
 Currently in the competition.
 Currently not in the competition

History

In 2012, the Surrey Beavers played against Kelowna Crows in the Grand Final winning 20 to 4 to then go on to the Premier's Challenge to take on the BC Selects (reserve grade team of the BC Bulldogs). The BC Selects defeated Surrey Beavers 28 to 6. Following the conclusion of the 2012 season, Burnaby Lake Rugby Club withdrew from the competition.

In 2013, RLBC announced the expansion of the competition to include a further 2 teams, Richmond Bears Rugby League Club and the Vancouver Dragons Rugby League Football Club. However, the expansion was met with 4 of the original six Clubs stepping away from the competition (although 2 would return in the future). The Grand Final pitted the previous season champions against the Sea to Sky Eagles-based out of Squamish. The Surrey Beavers were victorious.

In 2015, the Coastal Cougars (playing as the Capilano Cougars) were the top-placed team after going undefeated all season and defeated the Vancouver Dragons in the Grand Final 30 to 6.

In 2016, the Coastal Cougars again went undefeated and won the Grand Final over the Abbotsford Griffins by a score of 48–12.

In 2017, the Coastal Cougars lost their 2nd week match meaning the end of a remarkable winning streak that took them through over 2 seasons and ultimately ended at 12 wins in a row. In the Grand Final, the Valley Warriors laid claim to their first Grand Final Championship with a 20–0 win over the Kelowna Roosters, a founding member, who returned for play in 2017 and then subsequently ceased operations.

In 2018, the Vancouver Dragons collected their first Grand Final Championship with a narrow 26 to 24 over perennial powerhouse Coastal Cougars.

In 2019, the Point Grey Thunder qualified for their first Grand Final after a semi-final win over the Valley Warriors by a score of 34–14. In the final, however, they lost to the Coastal Cougars by a score of 38–28.

In 2020, the league expanded to include the Whistler Wolves and added two clubs, the Vancouver Dragons and Valley Warriors, established women's teams to compete. As a consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, the season was unable to start.

Structure and finance

Rugby League Clubs in the RLBC are incorporated societies and operate independently under the auspices of the RLBC and Canada Rugby League, or are post-secondary affiliated clubs.

Currently the RLBC is a self-funded entity and relies heavily on the contributions made by players and sponsors to help pay for the cost of league operations and representative teams.

Representative squads

RLBC players consist of the men's team, the British Columbia Bulldogs and women's team, the British Columbia Storm. Players from the RLBC also make up the Western Canada Wild, a regional representative squad for the provinces of Manitoba, Alberta and British Columbia for both men and women. In 2020, the Western Canada Wild met the representative team for Eastern Canada in the "Thunderdome" at Lamport Stadium in Toronto, Ontario. The "thunderdome" being an event similar to the popular State of Origin series in Australia in which the teams are composed of the best players representing regions. In the inaugural Thunderdome, the Western Canada Wild women defeated Eastern Canada 24-18 while the men lost to Eastern Canada 14–44. [7]

BC Bulldogs - Recent Fixtures

DateWinning TeamScoreLosing TeamLocation
Sep. 6, 2015BC Bulldogs38-12Alberta Broncos Kelowna, British Columbia
Oct. 13, 2016Jamberoo Superoos40-26BC Bulldogs Rotary Stadium, Abbotsford, British Columbia
Oct. 24, 2016Queensland Police50-0BC Bulldogs Rotary Stadium, Abbotsford, British Columbia
Sep 3, 2017BC Bulldogs40-22Alberta Broncos Calgary, Alberta
Oct. 29, 2017Coogee Wombat48-24BC Bulldogs Richmond, British Columbia
Sep. 2, 2018BC Bulldogs68-6Alberta Broncos St. Albert, Alberta
Sep. 1, 2019BC Bulldogs44-20Alberta Broncos St. Albert, Alberta

The roster for the BC Bulldogs against their provincial rival Alberta Broncos on September 2, 2018 is below.

BC Bulldogs Squad - Sept. 2, 2018
First team squadCoaching staff
  • 1 St. George colours.svg Ben McIvor – FB – Vancouver Dragons
  • 2 Ireland colours.svg Luke Torroca – WG – Valley Warriors
  • 3 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Rick Schouten – CE – Abbotsford Griffins
  • 4 St. George colours.svg Matthew Liszt – WG – Vancouver Dragons
  • 5 Ireland colours.svg Liam Grogan – CE – Valley Warriors
  • 6 St. George colours.svg Taurean Sheehan – SO – Vancouver Dragons
  • 7 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Connor Hunter – HB – Abbotsford Griffins
  • 8 Wellington colours.svg Sam Collins – PR – Coastal Cougars
  • 9 St. George colours.svg Scyler Dumas - "C" – HK – Vancouver Dragons
  • 10 Ireland colours.svg Joey Murphy – PR – Valley Warriors
  • 11 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Stephen Lenahan – SR – Abbotsford Griffins
  • 12 Eastern Suburbs colours.svg Jason Hignell – SR – Abbotsford Griffins
  • 13 Ireland colours.svg Benji Wilson – LF – Valley Warriors
  • 14 St. George colours.svg Ray Bissonette – positions – Vancouver Dragons
  • 15 St. George colours.svg Nathan Kendrick – positions – Vancouver Dragons
  • 16 Ireland colours.svg Ryan Mitchell – positions – Valley Warriors
  • 17 Wellington colours.svg Blake Mahovic – positions – Coastal Cougars
  • 18 Ireland colours.svg Jay Franklin – positions – Coastal Cougars

Head coach

  • Andy Blackburn

Assistant coaches

  • Wayne (assistant coach)
  • Ally Mac (Junior Development)
  • Mike Clark (Team Physio)
Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)


BC Storm - Recent Fixtures

DateWinning TeamScoreLosing TeamLocation
Sep. 3, 2017Alberta Broncos32-30BC Storm Calgary, Alberta
Jul. 27, 2018New Zealand Universities54-0BC Storm Delta, British Columbia
Sep. 1, 2019BC Storm26-26Alberta Broncos St. Albert, Alberta

The roster for the BC Storm as of September 1, 2019 when they took on the Alberta Broncos is below.

BC Storm Squad - Sept. 1, 2019
First team squadCoaching staff
  • Melissa Seselja
  • Gabrielle Hindley
  • Kate Grudinski
  • Maira Acevedo
  • Kaila Pickering
  • Alexis Mok
  • Natalie King
  • Simran Gillar
  • Annalise Wilkinson
  • Shalaya Valenzuela
  • Sarah Duncan
  • Changelle Bracken-Illich

Head coach

  • Brian Wilkinson


Legend:
  • (c) Captain(s)
  • (vc) Vice-captain(s)


See also

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References

  1. ↑ "RLBC - Whistler Wolves". RLBC. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  2. 1 2 "RLBC - Coastal Cougars" . Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  3. 1 2 "RLBC - Valley Warriors" . Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  4. 1 2 "RLBC - Vancouver Dragons". RLBC. Retrieved 2020-08-03.
  5. ↑ RLeague, BC Bulldogs (2015-05-25). "Congrats to @RichmondBears @Richmond_RFC on winning Plate Trophy at BCRL @CanadaRL9s !pic.twitter.com/8Azv1bbSvX". @BCBulldogsRL. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  6. ↑ "British Columbia Rugby League on Instagram: "The #2014 #BCRL9s #Champions The #Whistler #Wildcats . Congratulations guys for the well deserved win. A great way to start the #BCRL…"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 2021-12-24. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
  7. ↑ "Inaugural Canadian East v West Fixtures a Triumph". Toronto Wolfpack RLFC. 2020-01-14. Retrieved 2020-02-17.
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