UVic’s Women’s rugby team claimed Canada West Champions banner for the first time in ten years against UBC, but came in second at the U Sports Championships
Photo by Armando Tura.
In the last minute of the Canada West Championships game in Edmonton, AB on Oct. 19, the Vikes women’s rugby team defeated the University of British Columbia (UBC) 18-17.
UVic and UBC have played against each other in every Canada West game since 2021, each time resulting in a win for UBC, so this Vikes win was a long time coming. But it’s not over yet. The Vikes still have the U Sports Championship, hosted by UBC in Vancouver from Oct. 29 to Nov. 2.
The Vikes put up a fight at the Canada West Championships this year, and secured the title in the 74th minute of the game. After years of silver medals, the team’s win is well-deserved. Their passion, professionalism, and skill were displayed on the field. Not only did the Vikes win their game, fourth-year fullback Carissa Norsten received The Rugby 15s Player of the Year award, and the team’s Head Coach, Brittany Waters, received the Coach of the Year Award.
Additionally, Sierra Gillis, Faith Tilley, Justine Blatt-Janmaat, Maggie Mackinnon, and Ella O’Regan were named to the Canada West All-Star team.
Norsten is a 2024-25 U Sports All-Canadian athlete and Olympic silver medalist who finished the Canada West season with 35 points. She helped solidify the win at the championships, touching down the ball in the try zone and gaining five points for the Vikes in the beginning of the game. “Having two wins against UBC earlier in the season definitely helped the team go into the game with confidence,” Norsten said. As a fullback, she is constantly in communication with her team members, and her prior experience at the varsity and Olympic levels have been helpful in translating plays and attacks.
“We’re a tight-knit team, and we do pretty much everything together,” said fifth year prop Soleil Brooks in an interview with the Martlet. The time the players spend with each other outside of rugby is one of the reasons the team is so strong. In between practice and classes they grab coffees and do work together, which has solidified their connections on and off the field. Connection and trust are two key components that make the team so strong.
The team has 11 senior players who have been through many highs and lows together. It was a tough time for them in 2022, when UVic hosted nationals and lost in the quarterfinal. The experience of having countless close games made their win at the Canada West Championships taste even sweeter. They’ve made their comeback, and are constantly improving.
“We’ve known that we belong there, and we know that we can do it,” Brooks said. Not everyone gets the opportunity to play in national finals, and The Vikes are grateful for their spot. However, it’s not just luck that gets you to the top. It’s years of practice, sweat, and wins and losses that propel the team forward. It took years to build up the belief in themselves and the team, and when it finally fell together on Saturday, Oct. 18, it was a moment of relief.
The UVic women’s rugby team wouldn’t be the same without their Head Coach, Brittany Waters. Waters is familiar with the dedication that it takes to be a student athlete, and her former student experience makes her a reliable and inspiring coach. She emphasizes the importance of honesty, collaboration, and trust in her coaching style. After 10 years, Waters helped lead the team to victory at Canada West. Her first year as head coach — in 2015 — was the last time the team won its title. “I am so grateful to be able to coach such incredible athletes,” Waters told the Martlet.
The Vikes also performed well at the U Sports National Championships this week in Vancouver, B.C. They advanced to the semi-finals after beating the University of Ottawa 41-8 on Oct. 29, but in an extremely close final game on Nov 2, they lost by two points to UBC and took home the U Sports Silver medal.
