Americas Rugby News Rugby news from across the Americas!
The biggest trophy in BC men’s rugby will be contested on Saturday when the three-time defending champion UBC Thunderbirds take on some familiar faces in the UBC Old Boy Ravens with the Rounsefell Cup on the line. Abbotsford’s Rotary Stadium will host BC Rugby Finals day, with nine games in all between two fields. A complete list of matches and lineups can be seen at BC Rugby News.
It should be obvious but if not, the Ravens are in large part composed of UBC alumni including four who started the 2017 final in a blue jersey. The T-Birds got finished the regular season in top spot, four points ahead of the Ravens, but the two split their head-to-head match-ups. Both feature high powered attacking games with their points differentials more than double that of their nearest contenders.
A large number of representative players adorn each side. UBC’s dominant South African prop Clint Lemkus will miss the match due to suspension but the Thunderbirds will have two Canada u20 grads in Cali Martinez and Conor Sampson in the front row. Second row James Carson and openside Jake Ikeda were named to the inaugural Canadian University Championship Dream Team in November.
Outstanding halfback combination Will Percillier and Theo Sauder were also part of that select side, as was winger Cole Keffer, also a capable scrumhalf. Elias Ergas brings highlight-reel speed on the right wing while outside center Ben LeSage was a standout for the senior Canadian test side during the World Cup Qualifiers earlier this year.
The Ravens have a formidable pack that includes former Ireland u20 prop Chris Taylor, Canadian international Jon Phelan, and BC Bears reps in Paul Ahn and Sam Clark. A dynamic back row features another Ireland native in Karl Moran, former Tarbes academy flanker Simon Etheve, and former Canada u20 captain Connor Hamilton. The latter co-captained the Thunderbirds in last year’s final along with scrumhalf Jorden Sandover-Best.
Canada ‘A’ rep Adam McQueen was also part of last year’s side and he heads up a similarly daunting backline that sees Bears starter Harjun Gill left on the bench. Canada Sevens cap Karsten Leitner prowls on the wing with captain Cully Quirke named on the other. Ontario Arrows fullback Aaron McLelland is as quick as they come and knows his way to the tryline as he showed in UBCOB’s stunning upset of the Houston SaberCats in January.
This has all the makings of a classic. Two sides that know each other inside-and-out capable of playing scintillating rugby with speed and skill across the park. The Thunderbirds come in as defending champs but the Ravens have their own winners and are boosted by some key veterans. If the Ravens can contain the likes of Sauder and LeSage, they have every chance of dethroning the T-Birds but that is a task easier said than done.
Kickoff is set for 4:30pm local time, 7:30pm Eastern. A live stream will be provided by BC Rugby.
UBC THUNDERBIRDS
1 Cali Martinez, 2 Conor Sampson, 3 Joe Sourisseau, 4 Nolan Howell, 5 James Carson, 6 Michael Smith, 7 Jake Ikeda, 8 Nick Allen, 9 Will Percillier, 10 Theo Sauder (capt.), 11 Cole Keffer, 12 John Jubenvill, 13 Ben LeSage, 14 Elias Ergas, 15 Nick Collett
Replacements: 16 Nick Frost, 17 Tyler Rowland, 18 Owain Ruttan, 19 Cameron McWilliam, 20 Fraser Hurst, 21 Daniel Archer, 22 Kevin Vertkas, 23 Harrison Smith
UBCOB RAVENS
1 Paul Ahn, 2 Nathan Kendrick, 3 Chris Taylor, 4 Sam Clark, 5 Jon Phelan, 6 Karl Moran, 7 Simon Etheve, 8 Connor Hamilton, 9 Jorden Sandover-Best, 10 Adam McQueen, 11 Cully Quirke (capt.), 12 Ben Grant, 13 AJ King, 14 Karsten Leitner, 15 Aaron McLelland
Replacements: 16 Garrett Garbe, 17 Marc Tait-Belvedere, 18 Curtis Delmonico, 19 Nick Waggott, 20 David O’Donoghue, 21 Kol Hendrikson, 22 Harjun Gill, 23 Kelepi Gucake
Date: Saturday, May 5
Venue: Rotary Stadium, Abbotsford
Kickoff: 16:30 local (19:30 Eastern)
Referee: Chris Assmus (RC)
Assistants: David Smortchevsky (RC) & Saro Turner (RC)
Broadcasts: Live Stream
