2018 MEN'S CANADIAN RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP SCHEDULE ANNOUNCED

LANGFORD, BC – Rugby Canada is pleased to announce the plans for the 2018 Senior Men’s Canadian Rugby Championship (CRC). 

“The CRC is an important part of the pathway to the senior men’s program,” said Canada’s senior men’s head coach Kingsley Jones. "In recent years players have been given the opportunity to play test match rugby through being identified and excelling in Canada's top domestic competition. This year, as we build towards the repechage tournament in November, building depth through high level competition is essential and I look forward to working with all the regions to develop players.” 

This year’s edition will see a home-and-away series between the East (Ontario Blues & Atlantic Rock) and West (Prairie Wolf Pack & BC Bears) teams in their respective regions between July 27^th to August 10^th before all four sides round out the tournament at the Calgary Rugby Union. The semi-finals will take place on August 23^rd before the finals on the 26^th.

“It will be great to return to Calgary again for the CRC after their tremendous hospitality during the 2015 and 2017 editions of the tournament,” said Dustin Hopkins, Rugby Canada Interim GM. “The critically important Rugby World Cup 2019 repechage tournament is fast approaching and the CRC is the opportunity for domestic players to be seen in regional competition."

The BC Bears are the defending CRC champions after an exciting one-point victory over the five-time MacTier Cup Champions Ontario Blues last August in Calgary. Ontario, winners of the tournament in 2011-14 & 2016, hold the record with five national titles while the Bears (2) are in second and The Rock and Wolf Pack each lifting the title once.

Broadcast details, as well as kickoff times and venues, for all matches will be confirmed in the coming months.

2018 CRC Senior Men

Teams:

BC Bears
Prairie Wolfpack
Ontario Blues
Atlantic Rock

Dates:

July 27th, 2018 – BC Bears vs. Prairie Wolfpack @ Calgary, AB, venue: Calgary Rugby Park

August 4th, 2018 – Ontario Blues vs. Atlantic Rock @ Montreal, QC, Venue TBD

August 7th, 2018 – Atlantic Rock vs. Ontario Blues @ Toronto, ON, Venue TBD

August 10th, 2018 – Prairie Wolfpack vs. BC Bears @ Vancouver, BC, venue: UBC

Semi-Finals

(Semi-Final 1) August 23rd, 2018 – East 1 vs. West 2 @ Calgary, AB, venue: Calgary Rugby Park

(Semi-Final 2) August 23rd, 2018 – West 1 vs. East 2 @ Calgary, AB, venue: Calgary Rugby Park

Finals:

(3rd Place) August 26th, 2019 – Loser SF 1 vs. Loser SF 2 @ Calgary, AB, venue: Calgary Rugby Park

(Final) August 26th, 2019 – Winner SF 1 vs. Winner SF 2 @ Calgary, AB, venue: Calgary Rugby Park

Previous MacTier Cup Winners:

2017 – BC Bears
2016 – Ontario Blues
2015 – Prairie Wolf Pack
2014 – Ontario Blues
2013 – Ontario Blues
2012 – Ontario Blues
2011 – Ontario Blues
2010 – Atlantic Rock
2009 – BC Bears

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