The women’s rugby wave continues to crest on the Island with the U Sports national championships being held at Centennial Stadium and Wallace Field today through Sunday.

The Langford-based Canadian women’s sevens team won bronze at the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.

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Now comes another brick in the foundation.

“The sevens girls gave such great visibility to women’s rugby this summer and we just want to keep raising the profile for the sport in the community,” said University of Victoria Vikes head coach Brittany Waters.

This weekend will feature the more traditional XVs version of the sport with the eight best university teams from across the country.

The quarter-finals open today at noon with the third-seed Calgary Dinos taking on No. 6 Acadia Axemen; followed by the second-seed Ottawa Gee Gees versus the defending champion and No. 7 McMaster Marauders at 2 p.m.; fourth-seed St. Francis Xavier against No. 5 Concordia at 5 p.m.; and the host and eighth-seed UVic Vikes meeting the top-ranked Guelph Gryphons in the feature game at 7 p.m. under the lights at Centennial Stadium.

The semifinals are Friday at 5 p.m. and 7 p.m. The consolation round is Saturday at noon and 2 p.m. The championship game is Sunday at 3 p.m., preceded by the bronze-medal game at 1 p.m. and fifth-place game at 11 a.m.

“All the teams here are great teams. We like being the underdogs … it motivates us to play better,” said Waters, of the host side’s No. 8 seeding.

“I believe in the girls and that they can do it.”

UVic was Canada West conference runner-up to Calgary this season. The Vikes placed fifth at last year’s nationals after winning the conference title.

“We gained a great deal of experience by going to the nationals last year,” said Waters.

Asked about the keys to winning a national tournament, UVic captain Julia Folk replied: “Resilience … you have to keep coming back, no matter what.”

Folk is a third-year bio-psych-ology major and hook-position player from Regina, who has been capped five times for Canada, and will add to that total during Test matches against Ireland, England and New Zealand this month.

“We have to stick to our game plan and fight for each other,” she said.

Waters said her Vikes play an expansive game.

“We have versatility, with fit players who are mobile,” said the UVic bench boss.

With a possible three games over four days, she will need them.

“It can become a war of attrition,” said Waters.

cdheensaw@timescolonist.com