From May through August, 2024 Vancouver Highlanders will host some 10 matches against visiting National Teams at select venues in Metro Vancouver.  The team that fares best against us will have its name eternally engraved on the Rugby Players Challenge Cup, an historic sterling silver rugby trophy crafted in England in 1889.

Highlanders Co-Founder, Curry Hitchborn, said: “We have had no shortage of interest from National Teams eager to visit Vancouver and test themselves against us.  The RPC Summer Series is reminiscent of a bygone era when the British Lions and All Blacks travelled to British Columbia to play our representative sides at Brockton Oval.

Today we can confirm five matches:

June 28: Double Header: Canada Selects & Barbados

July 20: Germany

August 3: Brazil

August 17: Canada XV

“An important aspect is the opportunity in our matches against Canada to see 40-plus exceptional Canadian athletes testing themselves against each other, best on best.  We will be announcing more games soon.”

Highanders Co-Founder Ralph McRae added: “We are excited to forge new relationships between British Columbia and the international rugby community.  Our thanks to Barbados, Germany and Brazil for seizing this opportunity.  We look forward to putting on an amazing show for our guests and building on the RPC Summer Series for years to come.

“We are also sincerely grateful to the leadership of Rugby Canada for arranging these games amidst an already busy summer test series.  This opportunity to see so many Canadian men competing at a high level is unprecedented and I applaud them for making this a reality.”

As the RPC Summer Series evolves the Highlanders will partner with visiting nations to promote fun aspects of their culture at our matches: Summer Octoberfest, Carnival, Cinco de Mayo, Caribbean Days, are all possibilities.  Sport, after all, is entertainment and our mission is to make each game a memorable event.

A critical component of the Summer Series is the involvement of the BC Rugby Union and its member clubs, without which none of this would be possible. Vancouver Highlanders Rugby and all our players are proud members of the BC Rugby Union. We are optimistic that this new annual competition will supercharge the development of rugby, both in British Columbia and across our great nation. To that end our intense competition schedule will necessitate big contributions from members of our Reserve Team, particularly on June 28 when we will mobilize our entire squad.

So please mark your calendars with these dates and watch here for more match announcements, coming soon, so you can join us to experience Rugby at its Best™.

Fortitude!

About Vancouver Highlanders Rugby.  Our mission is to advance the personal and professional development of the person through Rugby Union.  Our 45 Highlander and Reserve players are dedicated to playing their sport at the highest level in North America.  We will compete in the Rugby Players Challenge Summer Series to be held annually in Metro Vancouver as we host visiting National Teams competing for the Rugby Players Challenge Cup.

“Vancouver Highlanders” is a trademark of Vancouver Highlanders Rugby, LP.  “Rugby Players Challenge”, “RPC”, “Rugby Players Challenge Summer Series”, “RPC Summer Series” and “Rugby at its Best” are trademarks of Rugby Players Challenge Inc.