VANCOUVER – For the first time in nearly six years, the UBC Thunderbirds and the University of California Golden Bears will do battle in Vancouver, in a match held inside Thunderbird Stadium at 1:00 p.m. (PT) on Saturday, February 7.
The 'Birds and Bears faced off for the first time back in 1921, with UBC winning that match 8-0. The two storied programs have enjoyed a long-standing rivalry ever since, with the winner of each home-and-home series claiming the World Cup – named after the now-defunct Vancouver World newspaper.
"This fixture has always represented something bigger than just a result," said T-Birds head coach
Didier Banse. "There's deep history here, mutual respect, and a shared standard around how the game should be played. A lot of work has gone into restoring and honouring this historic match between our two programs…it's a privilege to be part of carrying that forward."
After the pandemic temporarily halted the series, it resumed last February in the first leg of the 100th year of World Cup competition. The winner of the series is determined by the team that has the higher aggregate score over the course of its two legs, played first in Berkeley and then in Vancouver.
The Golden Bears defeated UBC 49-24 at home in their previous meeting, meaning that the Thunderbirds will need to beat their foes by 26 points or more on Saturday to claim the trophy.
"Cal are disciplined, well-coached, and very clear in how they want to play," stated Banse. "If we sit back and wait for them to come to us, they'll take advantage of it.
"Defensively, we need to be aggressive, stay connected and be relentless. Offensively, we have to earn the right to play – win our collisions, control territory, and be patient when required. Big matches are often decided in small moments, so our ability to execute under pressure will be key. If we control those aspects of the game for long periods, we'll give ourselves every opportunity to turn the result our way."
The Golden Bears are the most decorated American collegiate rugby program, with 29 national championships in 15's play. They won their 29th title last spring, claiming their first banner since 2017. Long-time head coach Jack Clark has helmed the program since 1984, winning 25 national titles in his 43 years in charge.
California sports a 24-2 record on the season, and have won 22 straight matches. They're coming off a blowout win over rivals UCLA, and are aiming to claim the World Cup for the first time since 2013.
While the Thunderbirds dominated the series in the back half of the 2010s – winning it seven years in a row before the pandemic – that came after a previous streak of the Golden Bears winning seven straight between 2007 and 2013. Over the last four editions, the home team has won their leg of the series each time.
The Thunderbirds are 12-3-1 on the season, and 8-1-1 in BC Premier League play. They've been a high-scoring outfit, cracking the 40-point barrier in 10 of their 16 matches.
"I'm pleased with the growth of the group," added Banse. "The record is solid, but for me it's more about how we've improved across the season. We've had challenges with injuries, availability, integrating younger players into meaningful roles, and I think the group has responded well…that said, we're still chasing improvement. We know there's another level in us, and matches like this demand that."
The action unfolds inside Thunderbird Stadium this Saturday afternoon. Tickets are FREE and the match will also be
streamed live on YouTube.
