WORLD UNIVERSITY RUGBY CUP

 

UBC places third at World University Rugby Cup after defeating Oxford University

Despite a number of key injuries, UBC played a strong and controlled game to beat Oxford University 18-14 and placed third at the World University Cup.

Monday's third place playoff saw UBC open the scoring after 10 minutes from a right field line out. The ball was moved wide for Karsten Leitner (St George’s) to score in the left corner. The 5-0 advantage was increased to 11-0 with two penalties from Brock Staller (Kitsilano).

Although in control for much of the game, Oxford mounted a comeback in the final fifteen minutes, scoring two converted tries to take a 14-11 lead.

The Birds responded immediately with a try from prop Neil Courtney (Handsworth) and a conversion from Staller to finish the game 18-14 winners.

UBC now return to Vancouver to take on the Capilano Club on Saturday at UBC.

Day Two Updates from Oxford

OXFORD - UBC fell 24-14 to Capetown University in the World University Rugby Cup on Friday afternoon and will now face hosts Oxford University in a playoff for third place. Their final match is scheduled for 5:30pm local time. The WURC Final will feature Capetown University against Trinity College Dublin. 

 

UBC played its top four semifinal game at the World University Cup in Oxford against the University of Cape Town (UCT). With its powerful pack and strong running backs, UCT pushed the pace of the game from the onset driving powerfully in the forwards and using the width of the field with their back line. 

 

It was UBC who took the lead however when Brock Staller (Kitsilano) intercepted a pass on a wide UCT attack. He converted his own score to give UBC a 7-0 lead.  UCT would level the scores when their stand-off found a gap in the UBC defense and scored near the posts. The conversion levelled the scores at 7-7. 

 

The South Africans took the lead on the stroke of half time as they executed an overlap to score in the right corner. The conversion made it 14-7 for UCT. 

 

The second half was a bruising encounter which saw UCT go ahead 17-14 with a penalty and then 24-17 with a converted try from its forwards. UBC had the final word when Theo Sauder (St George’s) broke down the right and passed inside for Andrew Coe (Bill Crothers) to score and bring the final score to 24-12 for UCT.  UBC now play Oxford for 3rd place while UCT and Trinity College Dublin square off for the Championship. UBC’s next game is on Monday September 21st.

 

UBC 10, Siberian Federal University 5

UBC played its final Pool game  of the World University Rugby Cup against the Siberian Federal University and won 10-5 to finish second in the Pool on Friday. The win sees the squad move on to the semifinals where they will face the University of Capetown. In the other semifinal, Oxford will play Trinity College Dublin. 

 

A try from James Thompson (Dromore) and a conversion from Brock Staller (Kitsilano) saw the Birds up 7-5 at the half. After some stiff defence, Adam McQueen (Canmore) kicked a penalty to secure the win. 

 

Click HERE to see photo galleries from the Oxford Tour. 

 

UBC defeats New Zealand Universities, falls to Trinity College Dublin

OXFORD - The UBC Thunderbirds Men’s Varsity Rugby Team kicked off their 2015 Oxford Tour with a resounding 20-10 victory over New Zealand Universities on Tuesday. The squad then fell 0-8 in their second clash against Irish side Trinity College Dublin. Their third and final pool match will see them face off against Siberian Federal Universities on 18th. 

 

UBC 20, New Zealand Universities 10

The Birds kicked off pool play at the World University Cup with a game against New Zealand Universities and fell behind to an early penalty goal for not releasing at the tackle. Brock Staller (Kitsilano) equalized with his own penalty kick within a minute to tie the scores at 3-3. 

 

New Zealand went ahead midway through the half when a succession of forward drives culminated in a converted try at the posts. From 3-10 down UBC would score 17 unanswered second half points to win the game.

 

Andrew Coe (Bill Crothers) intercepted a pass right from the restart to sore under the posts. Staller converted to tie the scores at 10-10. A missed penalty goal stopped UBC from increasing its lead only for the Birds to put together a series of drives before Jorden Sandover-Best (Robert Bateman) broke the line to score. Staller again converted to push UBC in front 17-10. A further penalty right at the whistle by Staller saw the Birds win the game 20-10.

 

UBC 0, Trinity College Dublin 8

In the second game of the day, UBC used all its remaining players during the match and fell 0-8 to Irish side Trinity College Dublin. Trinity scored a try right at half-time to take a 0-5 lead. A penalty in the second half pushed the margin to 0-8. 

 

UBC continued to compete but fell short of getting a result. With New Zealand Universities beating the Federal Siberian University in its second game, Trinity now stands at 2-0 with UBC and New Zealand at 1-1. UBC takes on Federal Siberian to try and book a spot in the top two places in the Pool. 

 

More updates from Oxford to follow. Go Birds Go!

 

 

Oxford Tour (scroll down for match fixtures & Roster)

Plans for the Thunderbird Tour to England to participate in the World University Rugby Cup at Oxford University are well underway. Flights have been booked and accommodation arranged at the historic Balliol College at the heart of the University’s College system.
 

The draw for the World University Rugby Championship, set to kick off on September 15th at St. Edward’s School has been announced.
 

The reigning British Columbia Premier League Provincial Champions UBC Thunderbirds have been drawn in Pool 2 with New Zealand Universities, Trinity College Dublin, and the Siberian Federal Universities.
 

Pool 1 will be made up of Oxford University, University of Cape Town, Waseda University and Stanford University.
 

On September 15th UBC will face New Zealand Universities at 2:00pm, with a 4:30pm match scheduled against Trinity College Dublin. UBC will face Siberian Federal Universities on September 18th at 1030am. The matches are 40 minutes in length, to be played at St. Edward’s School in Oxford.

For the full tournament schedule, visit www.ourfc.org
 

For more information abut the event, check out the Championship's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/WURC2015
 

FUNDRAISING EFFORTS

The players are busy fundraising for this event and we will also have some supporters’ gear available for the Tour:  The following items are available:

• UBC Scarf - $25.00

• UBC Rugby Baseball Caps -$30.00

• UBC Tie - $40.00

NOTE: All Scarfs and Baseball Caps must be ordered by Friday August 28th.

These items are available by contacting Dave Brown at dave.brown@ubc.ca

Dave will take down your information and let you know how you can pay for your order.
 

In addition you can also order T-shirts for $20.00 directly from Liam Murphy-Burke at l.murphyburke@gmail.com
 

NOTE: All T-shirts must be ordered by Monday August 24th

 

DONATIONS TO THE TOUR

We are looking forward to having as many Alumni and parents with us at Oxford and we are also encouraging any financial donations towards this Tour to be made as soon as possible before we depart on September 12th. We really appreciate the generous financial support that has already been given to help the Club offset the costs of the Tour for the players and appreciate any further donations so we do not completely deplete our coffers for the season ahead.
 

You can make any donation payment on line through the Bird backer donation page at https://www.donate.startanevolution.ca/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1730&ea.campaign.id=14648

(Make sure the team of choice is Men’s Rugby).

 

Or you can contact Dave Brown at dave.brown@ubc.ca to discuss any other payment method. Dave can also be reached at the office at 604-822-5958 or on his cell at 604-671-4283.

 

For more updates from Oxford, check out the Championship's website at https://www.facebook.com/WURC2015

 

UBC OXFORD TOUR ROSTER:
 

FORWARDS:
Prop – Chris Taylor (Dromore)
Prop – Neil Courtney (Handsworth)
Prop – Foster Dewitt (GP Vanier)
Prop – Calixto Martinez (Earl Marriott)
Hooker – Alex Mascott (St. George’s)
Lock – Connor Hamilton (St. George’s)
Lock – Sam Clark (Kitsilano)
Back Row – Nick Allen (Mulgrave)
Back Row – Charlie Thorpe ( c ) (Vancouver College)
Back Row – Connor Weyell (Handsworth)
Back Row – Thomas Roche (St. John’s Ravencourt)
Back Row – Michael O’Toole (Seaquam)
Back Row – Nakai Penny (Penticton)
Back Row – James McKenzie (St. Thomas Aquinas)
BACKS:
Scrum Half – Jorden Sandover-Best (Robert Bateman)
Scrum Half -  Cole Keffer (Sutherland)
Standoff – Adam McQueen (Canmore)
Standoff – Wesley Wong (Shawnigan Lake)
Centre – Colm Quirke (West Vancouver)
Centre – James Thompson (Dromore)
Centre – Nathan Rees (Porth County)
Wing – Brock Staller (Kitsilano)
Wing – Manar Kulkhan (Port Moody)
Wing – Theo Sauder (St. George’s)
Wing – Liam Murphy-Burke (Semiahmoo)
Wing – Karsten Leitner (St. George’s)
Wing – Tyler Hergott (St. Mary’s)
Full Back – Quinton Willms (Earl Marriott)
Full Back – Andrew Coe (Bill Crothers)
 

TEAM STAFF:
Head Coach – Rameses Langston
General Manager – Dave Brown
Coach – Luke Gray
Coach – Spence McTavish
Trainer – Mallory White