Brittany Waters turned out for Ultimate Frisbee as a University of Victoria freshman in 2001. But what was happening on the adjacent field intrigued her more.
“I didn’t even know women played rugby. I signed up the next day.”
The decision has taken her to two World Cups with the Canadian national team, including the run to the 2014 World Cup championship game in France, and two sevens World Cups.
On Wednesday, it brought her back full circle as the new head coach of the UVic Vikes.
“It’s incredible to return to where it all began,” said the 32-year-old from Vancouver, who played five seasons for the Vikes.
“This means a lot to me to be able to bring my experience, knowledge and passion to where it all started.”
Waters has retired from the national sevens team but is still a part of the Canadian XVs. Last weekend, the back-row speedster was playing in her club colours as she led the Velox Valkyries to victory in the B.C. Premier championship game.
Her sideline career began in 2014 as assistant coach to former Vikes head coach Mark Hall as UVic won bronze in the Canada West Final Four. Hall stepped down as Vikes head coach in December, with Waters taking over on an interim basis. Under Waters’ guidance, UVic won the colleges division of the Las Vegas Sevens in February and the silver medal behind champion McMaster in the CIS national sevens championships in March at Westhills Stadium.
With the national team based in Langford, Waters knows she has a recruiting chip. Canada has made news in women’s rugby with its 2014 World Cup championship game appearance and with the Canadian sevens on the verge of qualifying, in a tournament this weekend in England, for the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics.
“Having the Canadian team here, with access to national team coaches, is definitely a selling point,” said Waters, whose assistant coaches at UVic will include 2014 World Cup national team players Julianne Zussman and Barbara Mervin.
Another recruiting asset is the newly opened $77-million CARSA facility that will be home to UVic teams.
“That’s great timing. We’re going to have our own dressing room and varsity training gym,” noted Waters, a high school graduate of York House, who was also a member of the national netball team.
“I want to make this a high-performance environment, attracting players who want to take it to the next level.”
Clint Hamilton, UVic athletic director, said he had the ideal candidate.
“Brittany is an alumni who was a five-year Vikes player and All-Canadian, and who has played on the national team. She is a passionate, accomplished and very focused leader,” said Hamilton.
The 2015 XVs season begins in September, with the goal of qualifying for the CIS national championships Nov. 5-8 at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.
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