BC U18 Provincial Sevens Teams Place 2nd

BC’s Elite Youth Sevens program wrapped up the 2013 Las Vegas Invitational Sevens tournament with two of their four teams advancing to their respective divisional finals.

BC’s Thirds went through to the Boys High School Open final (Friday) but were beaten by the Southern California Selects. BC’s top U18 side finished 2-1 in Elite Division pool play and advanced to Saturday’s Cup final against the National Side High School All Americans.

In a rematch of the 2012 title game, defending champions BC scrummed down against the All Americans on the main pitch in front of thousands of spectators.

The American National Team eventually won out as they handed BC a 17-5 loss. During pool play the BC-1s had defeated High School All Americans 2 and Washington State Loggers but came up two points shy in a 21-19 loss to rivals Ontario. In the playoff rounds the BC-1s upended Utah 49-5 in the quarterfinals and won their rubber match against Ontario with a 19-12 win in the semi-finals.

Having gone undefeated in their previous five games, the All-Americans carried their form into the Cup final where they ran in two early tries and held off a BC comeback to take the Elite title. BC’s lone score came courtesy of a Chris Myles try (Shawnigan).

For BC head coach Shane Thompson, the experience for his players to compete for the Cup in Sam Boyd Stadium was a major highlight for the BC Elite Youth Sevens program, which was created to identify and develop young players for future national team representation at international competitions.

The All Americans proved to be much stronger than in recent years as did Ontario and a number of state and provincial rep sides competing this weekend in Las Vegas.  The BC Elite Youth Sevens program will now begin preparations for the 2013 Hong Kong Youth International Sevens which is set to run March 21-24.

Thompson will be basing his selections on the performances of his 41 players at the Las Vegas Invitational tournament and plans to announce the roster in the coming weeks.

BC U18 Women take third place in Vegas Invitational

The 2013 Vegas Invitational was the first tournament for a BC women’s provincial sevens team and the squad made of players from Vancouver, Vancouver Island and the Interior did not disappoint.

The team went 3-1 in pool play recording 118 points for and allowed just 20 points against.

After falling 10-5 to invitational side BC Banshees in the semifinals, the BC provincial team were convincing winners in the third-fourth consolation final against Bishop’s College, blanking the Montreal-based team 26-0.

Thanks to BC Rugby for the info.