Guelph, ON – The University of Victoria women's rugby team made history on Sunday, capturing its first U SPORTS national championship with a 17-0 win over the UBC Thunderbirds. After earning silver medals in each of the previous three seasons, the last two against UBC, the Vikes completed their climb to the top of Canadian university rugby and secured the national title.
Victoria's defence set the tone from the opening whistle.
- The Vikes delivered a championship-winning defensive performance, holding the Thunderbirds scoreless for the full 70 minutes.
- Whenever UBC threatened, Victoria answered with physical, disciplined defending and refused to concede ground near its own try line.
- The Vikes repeatedly turned away sustained attacking pressure, forcing the Thunderbirds to earn every metre and preventing them from finding momentum in attack.
- An early penalty attempt from Maddy Grant missed the target, but Victoria remained composed and committed to its defensive game plan throughout the opening half.
The breakthrough came midway through the first half.
- Emily Findlay opened the scoring in the 16th minute, crossing for the first try of the national championship match.
- The score remained 5-0 through halftime as the Vikes continued to frustrate UBC with their defensive intensity and physicality.
- Victoria entered the break holding the Thunderbirds scoreless and firmly in control of the physical battle.
The Vikes pulled away in the second half.
- Piper Walsh extended the lead shortly after halftime with a try in the 45th minute.
- Maggie Mackinnon's conversion pushed the advantage to 12-0 and provided the Vikes with breathing room.
- UBC continued to press as it searched for a way back into the match, but Victoria's defence repeatedly delivered, producing several key stops and denying multiple scoring opportunities.
- The decisive moment came in the closing stages when the Vikes blocked a UBC clearing kick deep in Thunderbirds territory.
- Victoria quickly capitalized on the turnover, with Larah Wright crossing for a late try to secure the 17-0 victory and the national championship.
Notables
- Victoria captured the first U SPORTS women's rugby championship in program history. The Vikes ended a streak of back-to-back-to-back national silver-medal finishes.
- Victoria defeated UBC after falling to the Thunderbirds in the previous two U SPORTS championship matches.
- Emily Findlay was honoured for her game-breaking performance with the Nike Player of the Game award.
- Maggie Mackinnon, Maddy Grant, Piper Walsh, and Emily Findlay were named to the tournament all-star team.
The victory secures the first national championship banner in program history and completes a remarkable three-year progression from silver medalists to national champions. This concludes the fall 15s season for the Vikes, as they will return in the spring for the Canada West 7s circuit.
