The Bow Valley Grizzlies, Cochrane’s representative in the Division 2 men’s rugby league, beat the Foothills Lions at home by a score of 37-14 on July 19 at Mitford Park. The win, significant as all wins are throughout the rugby season, had extra significance to both sides.
Both teams were competing for the newly minted Country Cup, a special accolade that can only be played for and won by teams who call communities in the “country” (not Calgary) home. The Grizzlies defeated the Lions, who call Okotoks home, to claim the first go-around with the Country Cup.
Teams that can compete for the Country Cup are Lethbridge, Banff, Red Deer, Foothills, and Bow Valley, and the team that wins the Cup must defend it the next time they play one of the “country” teams. If a new team wins, then they claim the title, and so on.
The idea for a new, mid-season trophy hunt was thought up by Grizzlies coach Tyler Hawes, and a member from the Foothills Lions. Hawes, who played rugby in New Zealand, said he first heard of the idea of the Country Cup format while he was playing overseas.
“It’s bragging rights and it heightens how much a game means to play in,” said Hawes. “We were trying to add a bit of meaning and to get the boys excited for game day…[it’s another] way to get the guys excited about another competition.”
Hawes said the Grizzlies and Lions agreed to play for the first Country Cup on July 19, with the winner–who ended up being the Grizzlies–would end up being the Country Cup champion until the next scheduled matchup between the winner and another country team.
The idea is new and Hawes hopes that the rest of the teams who are considered “country” teams, decide to buy in just like they did. Hawes said he doesn’t see why players wouldn’t want to compete for another accolade. “[The Grizzlies and Lions] were really excited to mix it up and put some silverware in the trophy case,” he said.
With the Grizzlies being the wins of the first Country Cup match, and since they don’t have any more games scheduled against the other country teams this season, the Grizzlies can officially declare themselves the 2025 Country Cup Champions.
Alongside the league championship, which is played at the end of the rugby season, the Country Cup is the second special edition championship of the season. The Grizzlies also fittingly hold the Grizzly Bear Cup, a rivalry trophy between the Grizzlies and Banff. This year’s Grizzly Bear Cup match-- the final game of the regular season-- will be played in Banff.
The Grizzlies are currently 6-2 on the 2025 season, with their next game slated for July 26 at home against the Calgary Canucks at 1:00 pm.
