80+ players to participate in 2025 U18 Men’s development camp

Rugby Canada’s 2025 U18 men’s programming will see 80+ players from across Canada attend a summer development camp at the University of Guelph.  

Held over July 1 to 7, the camp will be led by Cory Hector (University of Guelph) and Didier Banse (University of British Columbia).  

The aim of the U18 men’s program is to bring together top players from across the country and expose them to a training environment that maximizes player engagement and development while fostering the next generation of Canadian rugby talent. 

With a large and inclusive camp structure, this will be an opportunity for a broad pool of young players to gain exposure to elite-level coaching and to develop a common set of technical, tactical skills and behaviours. Players will participate in a mid-week scrimmage and an exhibition game on the final day. 

“The regional camps in 2024 provided a great exposure for roughly 80 athletes from across the country,” said Hector. “This year's camp will build on last year’s successes and format while adding the prospect of some east vs west competition.” 

This national development camp will serve as just one of many talent identification points for Canada’s U20 Men’s Rugby Team, along with other provincial competitions taking place across the summer, including (but not limited to) the BC Rugby Provincial Regional Championships, the Atlantic Rugby Championships and the 2025 U19 Canadian Rugby Championships. With many opportunities for identification, the goal is to identify a broad player pool and talent pipeline across numerous competitions. 

Provincial unions will nominate players to attend the camp, with the full list of players announced in June.  

Rugby Canada 2025 Age Grade Programming Overview 

U20 MEN 
Canada’s U20 Men’s Rugby Team, led by Head Coach Christiaan Esterhuizen, will compete in the Oceania Rugby U20s Challenge in Fiji, playing Samoa on May 28, Fiji on June 2 and Tonga on June 7. 

U18 MEN 
Coaches Cory Hector and Didier Banse will lead a development camp for 80+ players from across the country over July 1 to 7 at the University of Guelph.  

U20 WOMEN 
Canada’s U20 Women’s Rugby Team, led by Head Coach Dean Murten, will tour to Dublin and play Ireland on May 10 and May 17 at the IRFU High Performance Centre. 

U18 WOMEN 
Coaches Jenn Russell and Chelsea Ross will visit the provinces to assist with talent identification and development work with the purpose of supporting the provinces in their preparation for and participation in the 2025 Canada Summer Games (which is a U18 women’s and U20 men’s competition).