FAQs

Welcome to the Capilano Rugby Football club.

All players of any experience are welcome at any time.

Here is a list of answers to frequently asked questions for the youth and Minis programs and answers to questions you did not even know you had!

THE MINIS PROGRAM ages 4 to 12

Minis is co ed and runs in two year age bands for U6, U8, U10, and U12.
Regular practices run Sunday mornings at 10 am at the Capilano Rugby Club from

September to May. U12 also practices on Friday evenings at 600.
There is a long winter break starting usually after the first week of December and

running until late February - depending on weather and the condition of the fields. There are also occasional jambourees.

What are Jambourees? Jambourees are minis tournaments where each team plays about 3 - 20 minute games. We travel to other clubs in Metro Vancouver the farthest being Whiterock and Squamish, about eight times per year. We also host the other clubs for a Jambouree two to four times per year. These jambouree days run a bit longer than the regular one hour practice (U12 is 75 minutes). And, there are usually hot dogs or treats afterwards provided by the hosting club.

The schedule for jambourees comes out at the beginning of September and February.

Minis is a very civilized affair. There is a covered grand stand, and coffee for the parents and all your young children in one place. We also have the ever popular pancakes in the clubhouse afterwards on home days.

THE YOUTH PROGRAM ages 12 to 18

The Youth Programs (or age grade on the BC Rugby Website) are run as U14 boys, U16 boys and U18 boys, and U14 girls, U16 girls and U18 girls – also in 2 year age bands.

If we are short players for a certain age band, which sometimes happens with the girls, these players can either play up an age group, if experienced, or with the lower age bracket, they are new. All U14 players also have the option of playing co ed.

The youth league games run in the fall starting with a Sevens series for 3 weeks in September. The 15’s league follows starting the week after Thanksgiving and running to December. It is a condensed season, so be prepared to be available for every game.

In the spring, we organize exhibition games, if there is interest, which us usually the case for the U14 boys, and practice leading up to the Provincial Regional Tournament (PRC’s) which takes place at the beginning of July. This tournament provides a scouting ground for Provincial rugby pathways, the BC Bears (which is the name of our provincial teams). PRC’s are a whole other thing where players coming out of high school rugby join with club players to form a regional team (more on the PRC’s below).

Registration for all age groups

The fall 2024/2025 season is accessed through Sportlomo https://rugbycanada.sportlomo...., or there is a link on the Capilano rugby club website (black button top right). Be sure to select Capilano YOUTH when you are on the Rugby Canada page, or you will not be shown the correct options. When you click on Capilano YOUTH, it will seem as if nothing happened - you have to scroll down to get to the red selection screen. Note that the selections options in Sportlomo are by insurance categories, so just register by birth year, and you will be placed on the correct team. Exemptions to play in an age category up or down can be applied for where appropriate (Ask Julia about this one).

Kit/Uniform

All players need cleats and a mouthguard. Macy’s sports (across from the Save on Foods on Brooksbank) is a great place for rugby stuff as is that Sport Swap on Pemberton. Younger players and sometimes backs only need the plastic molded soccer cleats which are cheaper and come in cool colors too.

The club sells Capilano Branded uniforms for the players.

Many players already have what they need or outgrow stuff continuously, so we try to have sizes on hand at all times.

For minis U6-U12, Kit is shorts, socks and jersey $125 (2024 cost – it may go up for fall)

For youth U14-U18, it is shorts ($40) and Socks ($20). Numbered game Jerseys are distributed and collected each game.

Skills progression

For what the players can expect at each age, Rugby Canada has a PDF of the youth and minis progression such as when tackling is introduced, how long the games are etc. Visit Age Grade Law Variations for Community Rugby for more information.

Hosting

In addition to minis pancakes, we like to host after all youth games, which fall mostly on Sunday late morning following minis, with pizza or a meal. Volunteers are asked to help with food prep or clean up. Players are ALWAYS responsible for taking down the field and hosting/ clean up.

We try to schedule games on the same day as Snow Caps (old boys rugby) games so the bar will be open and there is a fun crowd in the grandstand.
Our club has one of the best viewing and playing facilities in town.

For the parents – our club is always accepting new players as well either as social members to play touch on Thursday evening (when the club house is always open) in the over 35 league, or as new players for the men’s and women’s teams.

It is a lot of fun for all and all are welcome.

See ya there!

Julia
(For the Capilano Youth and Minis crew)