The Matchup

 
Canada West women's rugby 15s gets going this weekend and the Thunderbirds get to start their home schedule on home turf. Their opening test will not be an easy one however, as the defending champion UVic Vikes will descend upon Point Grey for a tilt with the 'Blue and Gold'.
 
The two teams were at opposite ends of the Canada West coaches poll, but UBC will be looking to build on momentum from the program's win at the 2015 National University 7s Championships in Langford, BC.


 

Canada West women's rugby coaches poll

 
Team / Points (First-place votes) 

Victoria / 16 (4)
Calgary / 10 (1)
Lethbridge / 9
Alberta / 75 
UBC / 6 
 

Last Action

 
UBC was crowned National University 7s champs after a 33-26 win over the McMaster Marauders in March of 2016. In Canada West 15s they didn't fair as well, dropping their final regular season game against Alberta 26-0 to finish the season 0-3-1.
 

Chalk talk with Coach Dean between sessions today on day 3 of training camp ?? #gobirdsgo pic.twitter.com/R9NERN6pDI

— UBC Women's Rugby (@UBCWRugby) September 3, 2016

 
The Vikes concluded the CIS women's rugby championship with a program best fifth-place finish by defeating Canada West rivals the Lethbridge Pronghorns 27-24 at Queen's University.
 

By the Numbers

 
20- the amount of points UBC's Ciara Malone scored last year. The Delta winger needs some help in the 'Birds offence this year, as the team produced only 39 points in their four league games of 2015.


 
4 – the very few number of games the Thunderbirds play in Canada West women's rugby season. This makes every game vitally important if they want to earn a playoff berth in 2016.
 
 

Players To Watch

 
Mackenzie Carson – it will be interesting to see how the Yale Lions' high school star and U-20 Team Canada standout does in her first run at CIS rugby.


 
Gillian Boag – the speedy flanker was on fire in the National 7s win and will be looking to bring her nose for the end zone to 15s. Boag scored two tries in the decisive final win over McMaster. 

Coach's Take

 
"We are all extremely excited about the game," says Interim Head Coach Dean Murten. "They (UVic) had a very good squad last year and they'll be very strong again this year. Winning breeds winners and the players know we did extremely well in the University 7s, but we just have to put that behind us. It's a different game in the 15s, but we got some good experiences for sure."