Since making the move over the pond to play for Bayside, I’ve felt nothing but comfortable and very happy with the decision. It’s a very welcoming club which is heading in the right direction on the field. From the players to the supporters, every single one of them will do anything to make the transition as easy as possible for the overseas players.
The culture around the club is one of the best I’ve been a part of, whether that be events, coaching or Thursday touch rugby.
I’ve been very lucky to do some coaching since I arrived, helping the U18 boys for Bayside and also coaching the U18’s south Vancouver side. By doing this it paid for my playing fees and also get some of the young fellas to come up and play senior rugby. I love Bayside as a whole and am hoping to be here for a long time to come.

FINS UP.

I moved to Bayside from Australia at the end of 2022. Leading up to my move I was instantly supported by multiple people in the club who helped me with my Visa process, accommodation, and a place to work when I got here. I was overwhelmed with the amount of support I received from the Bayside members who made me feel at home as soon as I landed. Since the club finished the development of their clubhouse, it has become clear to me that the future is bright. With the quality of Rugby we are producing, and the amount of current and young talent around the club, it’s only a matter of time before Bayside becomes a powerhouse of BC Rugby. 2 years later I am still fully committed to Bayside. The club, my teammates, and other members are the primary reasons why I am looking to extend my time in Canada, as I now see it as my home away from home.

Fins Up!

I have played for Bayside for 3 seasons and coming to Canada to play for this club has been my best decision. The club is family-orientated with a large youth section so the chance to help coach the next generation is there, which I highly suggest. Training is 2 times a week with a free CrossFit session to help improve fitness through the season. The standard of rugby is good, we have 2 teams both of which have featured in finals during my time here. The main reason why I am certain you would love the club as much as I do is the boys you play with and the people you will meet, some of which will become friends for life.

Up the shark!

I arrived in Canada in 2019 and even before I stepped off the plane I was reached out to by multiple people from the club asking if they could help with any aspect of the move.
Everything from a ride from the airport, a place to stay and job opportunities. The club culture is unlike no other club in Canada. The men and women grind on Tuesdays and Thursday nights and put it all together on a Saturday infant of decent crowds consistently. And love a beer or two after big wins at the shark tank. I was lucky enough to win a Div-1 championship with the Sharks in 2019 and captain them in the 2021 season.
Since moving on to the MLR and national men’s 15s team I always love to go back down to the club even if it’s for just touch rugby on a Thursday and throw the fin up.
A home away from home for me and many other imports!

UP THE SHARK

Current Club: Pingvin RC, Sweden

I moved from Australia to Canada and Bayside Sharks for the 2019 & 2020 season before Covid interrupted. I was lucky enough to win a Division 1 title with the club and bring some of my best friends who now one is a Canadian international player. The club is so supportive with everything from accommodation to work and I don’t have a bad word to say about anyone there met some friends for life who I miss. I have played rugby in 4 different countries and am currently playing in Europe but Bayside and Canada are by far my favourite great lifestyle and support and good rugby. A pleasure to play for this great club and would recommend it to anyone looking to make the move you won’t regret it.

Up the shark!

Current Club: Palmerston Crocs

I arrived in Canada, April 2017 and found myself struggling to get anywhere with Rugby League as the season was only a few weeks long. A few of my mates I met through RL were playing with Bayside. After meeting with Andy and some of the committee, moving to Bayside with the lads was an easy decision. I made lifelong buddies that I still keep in touch with today. We trained hard, played hard and celebrated as hard as we could’ve!! The club also helped me a lot with difficulties off the field like finding more work and with homesick situations. I’m glad I hung around as long as I could!

Best club in Canada by miles! FINS UPP BABYY🦈

Current Club:  Edinburgh Academicals, Scotland

After finishing Uni I moved out to Canada with Robbie. We instantly felt welcome, with Jesse picking us up at the airport and taking us back to his place for food and some beers. The club were brilliant, helping us find a labouring job for our time out there and a job at 3 Dogs Brewing. I was invited to join families for Christmas Day and spent New Year with some of the boys. We had a class season on the pitch, only losing one league game and topping the table. All the imports look after each other and make sure we have a home from home, 4 of us lived together and we hosted a lot of club socials. Since returning home I have played for multiple clubs, but Bayside still tops my list. Bayside will look after you every step of the way and you’ll make friends for life if you choose to play for them.

Fins UP

Ex professional rugby player SA, England & France

Just before the onset of the pandemic, I initiated contact with Bayside, considering a potential relocation to join them as a player-coach. However, due to the circumstances brought about by Covid-19, my role shifted solely to coaching. The entire Bayside community has been incredibly supportive in welcoming my family, ensuring our transition was seamless. They arranged accommodation for our quarantine period, furnished our new home through generous donations, and immediately assisted me in securing a job and a vehicle upon my release from quarantine.
New players are embraced with open arms and treated like long-time members of the club, seamlessly blending into the Bayside family the moment they don the team shirt. Bayside boasts an exceptionally devoted fan base and is nestled in the charming town of White Rock, considered one of the best in Canada. White Rock offers a picturesque setting akin to a holiday village, with top-notch restaurants and pubs, just a 5-minute drive from the US border and a mere 45-minute commute from Downtown Vancouver.

Up the sharks!

Coming over to Bayside from Czech Republic after playing rugby in the UK and France, I couldn’t have asked for a warmer welcome. Playing home games in front of the Bayside crowd is something special, and with the new clubhouse, the place is buzzing every weekend! The facilities here are top-notch, and the club is doing fantastic work developing young players. After two years with this incredible community, I can honestly say that the people here are some of the friendliest I’ve ever met!

And aye, they’ve always got a Guinness ready whenever you want!

Up the Sharks! 🦈💙

Current Club: Bayside

I arrived at Bayside in 2014 fresh off the South African boat. I was immediately met with friendly and like-minded rugby enthusiasts. The battle and beers on a Saturday is what I’ve come to love being part of Bayside. I’ve made brothers for life and a lifetime of memories.

My cousin and I moved here together from London.

If decent rugby, lively social, good people, skiing, amazing scenery, fun and adventure are your thing. Then I can’t think of a better place to spend a few years than in White Rock with Bayside. I spent by far the best two years of my life there.

Let’s start with the club, The people really make it. From the younger players to the SOBs (old boys) They will all go out of their way to help you when you need it and alongside this have a genuine interest in getting to know you socially. When you arrive, People all around the club and town know about the “new imports” as you’ll be known, and are proactive in meeting you and usually sharing a beer.

The rugby is good and game days are great with decent crowds and a fun atmosphere. There is an old-school attitude, meaning everyone sticks around for boat races, beers and food with their teammates after the games. Playoffs at the end of each season, give a big ending, with higher pressure games, larger crowds and a feeling of an important climax to the season. As an Englishman, I Think our system lacks this.

We had a class, huge house “Ruckingham Palace” that the club helped us sort. We hosted after-party’s pretty much every week. Think American Pie. The Canadians love to send it, so you’re always in for a large one. Besides the club and rugby. White Rock is a beautiful social and friendly town, surrounded by many truly amazing places. Some of the trips we did whilst there were crazy. RV Ski trip across Canada and America, tubing, saw wild bears, Calgary stampede, Vegas, The Canadian Rockies, summer lakes and lots more.

I honestly couldn’t recommend the place more.  My sister came to visit 4 times she loved it that much. It took me a good 6 months to get over it after leaving, as it did become my home. I made lifelong best friends, and have returned twice on holiday. Whilst writing this I am in Australia for a wedding where 7 of us “imports” that lived together have reunited after 5 years. If you’re looking for an adventure with rugby at the heart of it. Or perhaps are unsure what to do next with your life. Go and play for Bayside, fully immerse yourself in the club, culture and place. I guarantee you will not regret it.

Fins up!!!

Bayside Rugby! Where do I start, I arrived at the club in 2018 from Australia. Being a young obnoxious kid, I had no idea how far I was going or what I was getting myself into.

But from the moment I was picked up from the airport, the whole club was so accomodating. I have made so many life long friends, and created many memories. Especially the 2018-19 season becoming Premiers, and scoring a meat pie! Haha (fins up). I personally couldn’t speak highly enough about Bayside Rugby Club, and I want to thank it for everything it’s given me.

It’s one of the best communities I’ve been involved in, during my time playing rugby!

Couldn’t recommend a better place to come

I arrived at Bayside in 2019 and this club provided more than just an avenue to play rugby. They provided a family.

Andy and Geoff made the transition from halfway across the world as smooth as it could possibly be, having already found me a place to live before I landed in the country The people in the club were very welcoming and made you feel like you were a part of the team for your whole life.

I have made friends that I consider brothers from playing at Bayside, the memories will be cherished forever and it is an experience that I still pinch myself about.

It’s a shame that the pandemic cut my time short. But once a shark, always a shark!!

Up the fins🦈

Traveling to British Columbia to play rugby for Bayside before starting university was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. The experience shaped who I am today and gave me a clearer vision of what I want for my life. Even before I arrived in Canada, Bayside Rugby Club went above and beyond to make the transition as smooth and comfortable as possible. From the moment I landed in Vancouver, I felt nothing but support and a warm welcome from both the players and the club. The culture at Bayside was unlike anything I’d experienced before—a close-knit community where I truly felt I belonged. It’s something I continue to cherish and hope to be part of again in the future. Since leaving Canada, I’ve longed to return. While I may no longer play rugby, the pull to be part of the Bayside family again remains strong. I’m incredibly grateful to the amazing host family who took me in and to the many individuals who helped me embrace the full Canadian experience. Bayside Rugby Club will always hold a special place in my heart.