Kelowna RFC "Crows Rugby"

06/05/2026

The year end banquet felt extra special this year, after a very successful season with two championships, celebrations were needed! We celebrated the amazing achievements all three teams have made this season, honoured our coaches for their hard work and cherished the memories we had as Crows these past ten months.

Congratulations to all players who received an award! Along with all your classic team awards, we want to highlight the Dennis Eden Memorial award. Dennis Eden is someone who contributed his life to growing BC rugby and contributing to both Langley RFC and the Kelowna Crows. In his memory, this award is given to a player from the men’s and women’s side who have exceptionally provided their time to the club, whether it’s coaching juniors or minis and volunteering for the club. This award comes with the coverage of the player’s next season dues as a token of appreciation for growing the game of rugby in Kelowna.

Dennis Eden Memorial Recipients - Abby Match, Tristan Gaudry
Rookie of the Year - Anika Scherek, Daniel Bravo
Most Improved Player - Jadeynn Papineau, Josh Bolding
Back of the Year - Olivia Burns, Jake Carr, Tristan Gaudry
Forward of the Year - Dani Vannieuwenhuizen, Richard Morton, Brice Michaud
Most Dedicated Player - Cass Kocevar
Most Valuable Player - Teresa Jackson, Stefan Vracarevic, Isaac Young

05/16/2026

After a successful rugby season, we want to highlight and thank the sponsors of the Kelowna Crows! Through their sponsorships, they support all of our rugby programs, and we’re able to run more smoothly as a club. They’ve helped fund our new kits, provided food for hosting, covered field rentals, and assisted in van rentals for our trips down as a few examples.

We are grateful for their continued support, some of whom have been sponsoring the club for years, and are reasons why Kelowna Crows rugby is growing. Thank you again sponsors, and support these businesses if you ever need their services!

If you want to be part of this group of amazing sponsors and support the Crows, please don’t hesitate to reach out to [email protected] or Patrick Cartwright to learn more about our sponsorship opportunities.

05/13/2026

On May 9th, the Kelowna Crows cemented themselves in history; not only did they win one championship, but two! Sweeping BC Rugby’s second division with title wins for both the women’s and men’s sides. We love a double-double!

The women started the day with an exciting and maybe stressful game for some ;) against Chilliwack Crusaders. Both teams have been at the top of the table throughout the whole season, so it is no surprise that they both brought out the heat for this match, exchanging tries and hard hits. The Crows may have come through with the win, but we want to thank Chilliwack for a great match and for the effort they’ve put in this season in playing, growing women’s rugby, and being amazing competitors.

The men faced off with Interior rivals Kamloops Raiders. Both teams gave the fans a fantastic battle to watch, showing quality rugby. Just as you think the Crows extended their lead enough, the Raiders came back with two tries towards the end, proving why they’re last year's champions. Crows showed solid defence and managed to hold off the Raiders as they captured the Championship. Though rivals, we thank Kamloops for being great competitors and also allies, as we both understand the challenges of being an Interior team. We commend them for continuing to grow the sport of rugby in the Thompson-Okanagan.

We want to thank all the fans who made it out to South Surrey on Saturday: having you in the stands gave the teams the extra push they needed to win it for the club. We also can’t forget everyone who tuned in on the livestream. We appreciate all your support, donations, and love you’ve given throughout the season!

The last time the women won the Division 2 title was back in 2016/17, while the men brought home a championship in 2017/2018 with a Division 3 title win. It was 2003/2004 when they last won the Division 2 title. You can say it’s been a long time coming, but this is proof that Kelowna Crows are growing again as a club, and we’re excited to see what next season brings!

05/10/2026

05/08/2026

The day the senior men’s team has been preparing for is finally here: a Championship match-up against our interior rivals, the Kamloops Raiders RFC.

Kamloops is a hard-running, dynamic side that always puts the Crows to the test. While the Crows have passed that test twice this season, anything can happen in a final. The boys are primed, prepared, and ready to prevail.

We start with a powerful front row with Vice-Captain Cass Kocevar anchoring the scrum between his prop mates, Brandon Woods and Matt “Tendies” Barriault.

In the second row, we have the (could be) father-son duo of Chris Hill and Connor Laing. Laing will be looking to snag opponent lineouts and secure the ball, while opponents will be desperately searching for an inch of Hill that isn’t covered in athletic tape (spoiler: they can’t).

The back row is looking to unleash some pent-up aggression on any Raider foolish enough to cross their path. Jeff Lohse, Danny Illichman, and Brice Michaud offer the perfect combination of powerful running, hard-hitting, and Frenchness.

Directing traffic is the pride of Penticton, Rudy Mackenzie at #9 and feeding team captain Rick Schouten at #10. In the centers, the alliteration combo of Jef Vreys and James Duguid will bring slick passing and hard lines.

The back three is a deadly mix of speed, tenacity, and salon-quality hair. Tristan Gaudry and Isaac Young will leave nothing but a "bleachy blur" as they whiz down the sidelines, while Jared Curry will leave you wondering how this grey-mulleted freak of nature continues to dominate the sport at his advanced age.

The depth doesn't stop there. Evan Vodarek, Chase Schumacher, Xander Webb, Ben Dunkerly, and James Dolman offer the opposition no reprieve when they step into the pack. Melani Nanai, Stefan Vracarevic, and Tyson Potts will provide the spark and fresh legs for the backline.

It’s shaping up to be a classic Interior rivalry. If you are in the White Rock area this Saturday and want to witness a clash for the ages, head down to South Surrey Athletic Park at 1:15 PM or catch us on the livestream.

Come cheer on the Crows as they look to bring home the BC Rugby Championship!

05/08/2026

For the last time this season, the Lady Crows take the pitch to fight for the cup.

This team has been building toward this moment for nine months. Every practice, every hit, every sprint, every sacrifice has all been for this chance to prove who they are.

The squad faces the Chilliwack Crusaders, a rivalry that’s already delivered one tie and one win for the Crows this season. They know what’s coming and are ready.

Learning from the wisdom and passion of their captain T, and their coaches, these ladies have spent the season perfecting every part of their game and pushing each other to be better every single week. Now it’s time to leave it all on the field and show the rugby community what they can really do.

Championship mentality.
Full 80 minutes.
One squad, one family, one mission.

This is Crows rugby ♥️💙

05/06/2026

As we wrap up our season, the Kelowna Crows Senior teams' end-of-season awards banquet is coming up on May 23!

Come join us for a night of celebration at the Metro Hub! It's time to honour our senior players for their hard work and dedication throughout the season. Get ready for a fun evening filled with awards, speeches, and good company. Let's get together and celebrate the successful season!

Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/kelowna-crows-senior-awards-banquet-20252026-tickets-1988939811517?aff=oddtdtcreator

05/06/2026

Making finals is a huge moment for a club, and to have two teams reach it is a whole other story; but here we are: the Kelowna Crows women’s and men’s division two teams have punched their ticket to the BC Rugby finals!

It is no coincidence that the Crows have cemented their spots in the championship: players and coaches have rightfully earned this position. It’s been nine months in the making, with practices you’d sometimes have to drag yourself to, long day trips down to the lower mainland, and plenty of hard-fought matches. Now it comes down to a single game for each team, and we have no doubt the Crows will give it their all!

The games are in Surrey, and we know not everyone can make it down to support in person. But fret not, there will be a broadcast on BC Rugby’s YouTube. The link will be in our bio’s Linktree.

📸: .shoots.sports