New Eastern Canadian Senior Men’s Rugby Competition Announced to Propel Performance Pathways
Together, the Atlantic Privateers Rugby Club, Rugby Ontario and the Fédération de Rugby du Québec (Rugby Québec) are excited to announce the formation of the Coast to Coast Cup – East for 2025, an initiative that will be instrumental in creating a more robust rugby ecosystem in Canada. This competition will provide players from the region with the opportunity to compete at a higher level while also contributing to the broader objective of advancing Canadian rugby.
Working alongside provincial partners in Rugby Ontario and Rugby Québec, the competition will feature the Ontario Blues, Rugby Québec U23 and Atlantic Privateers, competing in a home-and-away series during the spring months of April and May, culminating with the Coast to Coast Cup – East Finals event this June in Halifax, Nova Scotia.
With the endorsement of Rugby Canada and support of the Canadian Rugby Foundation, this regional competition serves as a critical step in building a stronger player development pipeline, offering primarily Under 23 Canadian-qualified players, with exceptions made for certain positions and targeted athletes, the opportunity to advance to higher levels of rugby, including national teams and professional leagues.
Strategic Benefits of the Coast to Coast Cup – East:
- Talent Pipeline: By focusing on primarily Under 23 Canadian-qualified players, the competition aims to develop and prepare athletes who will form the core of Canada’s rugby future. This competition aims to provide a platform for high-potential players, coaches, and match officials, in Eastern Canada for access to development pathways that lead to higher-level opportunities, including professional rugby and national team selection.
- Regional Focus and Sustainability: With teams from Ontario, Québec, and Atlantic Canada, this competition will maintain a regional focus while ensuring competitive balance. The home-and-away format reduces costs and maximizes player availability, ensuring a sustainable and manageable model for all teams involved.
- Community Engagement: Fostering regional pride is at the core of this competition. The initiative will not only boost player development but also increase alumni and fan engagement. With a strong emphasis on local rugby communities, this competition is designed to spark sustained local interest, enhance the visibility of rugby in the regions, and encourage grassroots support for the sport, creating a lasting connection with fans.
- Long-Term Growth: By providing players with access to higher-level coaching, top-quality competition, and a structured development pathway, the competition ensures that athletes continue to grow while contributing to the long-term success of Canadian rugby. Additionally, players will return to their local senior club competitions, enriching the competitive landscape across all levels of the sport.
The Coast to Coast Cup – East is not only a stepping stone for athletes but also a critical part of the shared vision for a national performance development structure in Canadian rugby. The Eastern division’s success will serve as a model for the rest of the country.
The Atlantic Privateers, Rugby Ontario and Rugby Québec are excited to see this new competition come to life, paving the way for a renewed national elite men’s rugby competition and contributing to the overall success and growth of Canadian rugby.
QUOTES:
“We are very happy to expand on our work over the last three years with the Coast to Coast Cup. We do so with our friends in Québec and Ontario, and hopefully out west, to build a more structured, consistent, and sustainable senior men’s high performance competition which will help our players and national programs.
– Dr. John Gillis, President & CEO, Atlantic Privateers
“The Coast to Coast Cup – East marks a positive advancement in the evolution of Canadian rugby. With a focus on talent development, regional collaboration, and long-term sustainability, we are confident this initiative will not only help produce the next generation of Canadian rugby stars but also elevate the level of competition within our club systems. By fostering a deeper connection between our local clubs and the national pathway, this competition will play a crucial role in enhancing the overall quality and competitiveness of rugby across Ontario and beyond.”
– Myles Spencer, CEO, Rugby Ontario
“This competition represents a significant advancement for Canadian rugby. We are very pleased to see the ECRC, launched last year, join forces with the Coast to Coast competition. This strategic collaboration marks a crucial step for the development of our young talents and the strengthening of our position on the national stage. The competition schedule will allow our players to benefit from quality matches in the spring before starting the season with our clubs. We hope that this competition will highlight the quality of Quebec players and contribute to the growth of rugby in Canada.”
– Hugo Montérémal, General Manager, Rugby Québec
“It’s great to see members of our community aligning to provide more opportunities for senior mens’ rugby. 2025 is a big year for our national team as we are fighting for Rugby World Cup qualification at the end of the summer. These games will offer our Canadian-based players competition to develop and improve towards national team selection.”
– Nathan Bombrys, CEO, Rugby Canada
“The Canadian Rugby Foundation is working with Rugby Canada, the provinces and the Coast to Coast Executive to create a truly national competition that will help develop and identify players that can compete at the professional and international level. The plan is to expand the current eastern competition to one that is truly coast to coast and raise the level of play to support the national squad.”
– Hans de Goede, Canadian Rugby Foundation
Competition Schedule
| Date | Fixture |
| April 12, 2025 | Atlantic Privateers @ Rugby Québec U23 |
| April 19, 2025 | Ontario Blues @ Rugby Québec U23 |
| April 26, 2025 | Atlantic Privateers @ Ontario Blues |
| May 3, 2025 | Ontario Blues @ Atlantic Privateers |
| May 10, 2025 | Rugby Québec U23 @ Atlantic Privateers |
| May 17, 2025 | Rugby Québec U23 @ Ontario Blues |
| June 21, 2025 | Coast to Coast Cup-East Finals: 3rd v TBC |
| June 21, 2025 | Coast to Coast Cup-East Finals: 1st v 2nd |
*Host venue locations and kick-off times to be announced.
About the Atlantic Privateers Rugby Club:
Founded as the Atlantic Selects in 2021, the Atlantic Privateers Rugby Club is committed to high-performance rugby development in Atlantic Canada. The club has built a reputation for fostering rugby talent through competitive events such as the Coast-to-Coast Cup and is dedicated to supporting the growth of the sport at all levels in Canada.
About Rugby Ontario:
Rugby Ontario is the provincial sport governing body responsible for the organization of rugby in Ontario. Our mission is to lead, support and promote “Rugby For All” from communities to clubs to province. This mission signals a movement towards creating a more cohesive, supportive and progressive sporting environment that is responsive to the needs of all members. The organization is responsible for leading various provincial and high performance programs, including representative teams for junior/age grade boy’s and girl’s as well as senior women’s and men’s programs.
About the Fédération de Rugby du Québec (Rugby Québec):
The Fédération de Rugby du Québec (Rugby Québec) is a non-profit organization, which brings together the regional associations and rugby clubs of the province. It is the representative body towards the Ministry of Education, World Rugby and the Rugby Canada. The Federation is present in most regions of Quebec and is involved with all age categories.
Contact
For more information, please contact: contact@privateersrugby.com
Stay tuned for more information on the Atlantic Privateers, Rugby Ontario and Rugby Québec websites and social media channels.
