VICTORIA- Regan Casey is a fifth-year flanker for the University of Victoria's women's rugby team, a position often unnoticed by fans but is indispensable on the field. Flankers don't get the highlight-reel moments or garner the glory with flashy tries or towering lineouts. Instead, they work in the shadows—tackling, running, and making the gritty plays that keep the team moving forward.

That's exactly how Casey plays—physical, determined, and indispensable.

"I want to be known as a hard worker, as ambitious and as a good teammate," said Casey.

But Casey's legacy doesn't begin on the rugby pitch at UVic. It stretches back across oceans and generations. Her father played professional rugby for the London Irish RFC before immigrating to Canada, where he continued to play in Ottawa. Casey was just nine years old when her father was killed by an impaired driver, but his influence lives on through his children, a legacy that found its way to Victoria.

Regan is not the only Casey to grace Wallace Field. Her older brother Gabe is a UVic and team Canada alumnus and former men's rugby captain currently playing in New Zealand, and her younger brother Muiredach is in his third season with the Vikes.

Originally from Ottawa, Casey grew up playing hockey and soccer and, of course, watching rugby. Her mother encouraged all three kids to get into rugby as a way of connecting to the legacy of their father and as a way of staying linked with their family from overseas.
 
When her older brother Gabe moved west to play for UVic, it set something in motion. She followed in his footsteps, drawn by the university's proximity to Rugby Canada and its prestigious biomedical engineering program. And soon after, their youngest brother Muiredach joined them on the field, completing the Casey trio.

"Playing alongside my brothers has been the most rewarding part of my Vikes career. Rugby is always a dinnertime conversation between us, and they are my constant supporters," said Casey. Their bond isn't just familial; it's a commitment to building something bigger within the rugby program.

Together, the Casey siblings have helped strengthen ties between UVic's men's and women's rugby teams, forging a stronger sense of community. Gabe and his teammates initiated traditions like the men and women attending each other's games and hosting joint events like the annual welcome BBQ for both squads; fostering a culture of camaraderie and mutual support is something Casey is proud of—and hopes will continue after she graduates.

Off the field, Casey faces an equally demanding opponent: biomedical engineering.

It's a field as intense as it sounds, requiring the same level of dedication and resilience that rugby demands. But for Casey, it's a perfect fit. Blending her love of kinesiology with a passion for math and science, she hopes to one day find a career combining the best of those worlds, whether developing prosthetics for elite athletes or working in sports analytics.

While balancing a challenging school schedule, competing as a varsity athlete, and completing co-op terms in the biomedical engineering field, Casey somehow found time to play rugby abroad.

During the past two Vikes off-seasons, Casey sharpened her skills playing club rugby in New Zealand for both the Mount Maunganui Marlins and the Bay of Plenty Valconix—a training ground known for bolstering some of the best rugby players in the world including several of New Zealand's infamous Black Ferns and Olympic gold medalists.

"One of my main goals of playing overseas was to set myself up to be the best athlete I could be to contribute to my team [here at UVic]. I've definitely noticed a difference in my game. I've continued to improve, and I can see it paying off this season," she said.

As Casey wraps up her Vikes career, her focus is two-pronged. "The goal is to win a national championship, full stop. We came so close last year and felt like it slipped through our fingers. Now we know it's possible," she said.

"A big learning for me in New Zealand was how the athletes are so proud of their culture and where they're from, especially those with Māori heritage. I'm so proud to be a Vike, and I want my legacy to be as someone who helped drive connections and create a positive culture in our program."