The waiting game is on as the UVic Vikes women’s rugby team, fresh off a silver medal in the Canada West Final, await the start of the national championships beginning Thursday (Nov. 3) through to Sunday (Nov. 6).
The Vikes will open the tournament against an unknown opponent on Thursday night, 7 p.m. at Centennial Field.
Eight of the best teams in Canada will be here for the championship, with four quarterfinal matches between Wallace Field and Centennial on Thursday. The semifinals are Friday, 5 and 7 p.m. at Centennial, followed by consolation semifinals on Saturday, and the bronze. The consolation final is Sunday, 11 a.m. at Wallace field. The bronze and gold medal games are at 1 and 3 p.m., respectively, at Centennial Stadium on Sunday.
The upstart Vikes won the Canada West title last year and competed at the 2015 nationals, its first time in 10 years. But this year, its the Calgary Dinos who are the upstarts, defeating the Vikes 29-14 in the Canada West gold medal game played in Lethbridge on Sunday.
“The girls showed a lot of character throughout the tournament and played some of the best rugby we've seen UVic play,” said Vikes head coach Brittany Waters. “It wasn't the result we wanted in terms of scores or seeding but as far as building our identity and the kind of team we want to be, our experience was successful.”
The Dinos finished with a perfect season, and were the only Canada West team to defeat the Vikes. The Vikes went 3-1 in the Canada West regular season, defeating the UBC Thunderbirds, Alberta Pandas and Lethbridge Pronghorns.
Visit Saanichnews.com to see who the Vikes will face in the national championship quarterfinal.
The Vikes men’s rugby team lost to the Castaway Wanderers 43-34 last week in the senior men’s B.C. Premier League. The Vikes continue the season with a match on Saturday against the Westshore Valhallians.