2026 Vikes women’s rugby
Celebrating success
Vikes women’s rugby delivered the most successful season in program history, establishing itself as a national leader through elite performance and a strong, unified culture. The team captured Canada West gold, then carried that momentum to the national stage with a silver medal at the U SPORTS National Championship.
Success extended across formats, with the program also earning Canada West silver in sevens rugby—highlighting the depth, versatility, and competitive maturity of the squad.
A culture built for excellence
These achievements reflect a program grounded in accountability, trust, and shared purpose—strengthened by intentional team building and a commitment to preparing athletes to perform at their best.
Your investment in student-athletes
Donor support played a vital role in this historic season. Scholarships helped reduce financial pressure so student-athletes could fully engage in academics and high performance training, while expanded assistant and specialist coaching enhanced technical development, mentorship, and individualized care.
Supporting performance and wellbeing
Investments in sports science, including GPS technology, improved training quality, performance monitoring, and injury prevention. A defining moment of the season was the Shawnigan Lake training camp, which created space for focus, connection, and alignment—laying the foundation for the program’s most successful year.
These investments go beyond medals. They help shape confident leaders and resilient competitors who represent UVic with pride—on the field, on campus, and in the community.
From the athletes
“The contributions from donors have single handedly allowed women’s rugby not only to continue in varsity athletics, but to grow into the inspiring program it is today at Vikes. Donor support allows athletes like me to focus on our athletic opportunities rather than the financial burdens that come with being a student athlete, and it truly is the lifeline behind our ability to train, travel, and compete. I genuinely would not be able to do what I love without the support and generosity of so many people I may never meet, but whom I strive to honour every time I step onto the field, with a smile on my face and a heart full of gratitude”
- Ivy Poetker
“Donor support is a huge part of what allows Vikes women’s rugby to be successful, both as a team and for each athlete individually. Being able to put money towards scholarships helps take some of the financial pressure off, which lets us focus more on school and performing in our sport. It also gives us opportunities like pre-season camps and international trips, where we can come together, build our game plan, and strengthen our connection as a team.
On top of that, we’ve been able to bring in more coaching staff and support, which makes a big difference in making sure we’re developing across all areas of our game. All of this directly impacts how we perform. It gives us more time and resources to prepare and compete for Canada West and national championships and continue building a program that produces athletes who go on to represent Canada at the highest levels.
- Olivia Newsome
For more information, please email Brittany Waters, head coach at vikeswrug@uvic.ca.
Highlights and headlines
Learn more about how community support has impacted Vikes varsity programs
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