EDMONTON – Following an exhilarating U SPORTS Women's Rugby 15's national championship victory on home turf back in November, attention now turns towards the Canada West Women's Rugby 7's season where the T-Birds will again aim to claim a banner inside Thunderbird Stadium.
 
But while the season will conclude in Vancouver at the beginning of March, there is plenty of action to come before then. It all kicks off in Edmonton this weekend, as the Thunderbirds square off against each of their five Canada West opponents in the Alberta Tournament on Saturday, January 24 and Sunday, January 25.
 
"We're really excited for the season and grateful for another opportunity to get out and play rugby," said UBC head coach Darcy Patterson. "We're not thinking too much about defending a title right now, our focus is on continuing to improve as a group, strengthening our team connection, building combinations, and growing as we move through the early tournaments. The results will take care of themselves if we stay committed to that process."
 
UBC begins the tournament against hosts Alberta at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, before then facing Trinity Western at noon and Lethbridge at 2:38 p.m. (all times PT). On Sunday, the matches continue with one against Calgary at 9:44 a.m. before a rivalry clash with Victoria at 12:44 p.m. to conclude the weekend.


 
With just seven players on the pitch and seven-minute halves in each match, the play will be fast and furious with each team hoping to score early and often.
 
"The transition from 15's to 7's is always an exciting one," added Patterson. "The game demands different decision-making, speed, and spatial awareness. Our preparation has been about helping players adjust to the tempo, refine their skill execution under fatigue, and reconnect with the flow of the 7's game. It's been great to see athletes get into that style and enjoy expressing themselves."
 
Entering this season as three-time defending champs and coming off a perfect 15-0 campaign last year, the Thunderbirds stand as the team to beat. Following the Alberta Tournament there will be one in Victoria on February 7 and 8, and then the third and final tournament inside Thunderbird Stadium on March 6 and 7.
 
The team with the best overall record across the three tournaments will be crowned champions. Ever since the Dinos won the inaugural Canada West 7's title in 2017, the championship banner has not left British Columbia. The Vikes won four straight titles between 2018 and 2022, with the T-Birds aiming to match that record streak this year.
 
"Of course, we always want to be competitive and put ourselves in a position to win, but more importantly we're looking to see growth – in how we communicate, how our combinations develop, and how we respond to different situations," remarked Patterson. "It's the first tournament of the season, so this weekend is really about laying strong foundations and continuing to build our identity as a team."
 
All matches at the Alberta Tournament will be broadcast live and on-demand on Canada West TV.