Pandas to host 2025 Canada West Rugby Championship at Foote Field

The University of Alberta Pandas are gearing up to host the 2025 Canada West Rugby Championship at Foote Field on October 16 and 19. The 2-3-1 squad has had a mixed season, with strong wins over the 0-6 Calgary Dinos, a draw against Lethbridge, and tough losses to the powerhouse Victoria Vikings and University of British Columbia Thunderbirds. Their final game, a narrow loss to Lethbridge, secured them a fourth-place finish and a spot in the Canada West playoffs.

It has been an up and down year, but the Pandas have fought their way in. Those wins over Calgary kept their season alive, even if their numbers do not quite match up with the conference’s elite. They will now face the undefeated Victoria Vikings in the semifinal.

The Vikings are in a league of their own this year. They went 6-0, scored 240 points, and allowed only 62. Fly-half Maggie Mackinnon leads the way with 36 points in five games. Nearly half their roster are first-year players, yet they play with the power of veterans. After back-to-back national silver medals, the Vikings enter the playoffs ranked third in the country and chasing another shot at gold.

The UBC Thunderbirds are not far behind. They finished 3-2, but their record hides how strong they really are. Both of their losses came in close games to Victoria. UBC piled up a whopping 283 points in the regular season and allowed only 55. Winger Adia Pye led all scorers with 65 points. The Thunderbirds, last year’s U Sports national champions, are ranked fifth in the country and remain serious contenders.

So where does that leave the Pandas? Their point differential of minus-112 shows the gap, but numbers do not tell the whole story. This is a young team, with 43 per cent of players in their first year: the same proportion as the Vikings. They missed the postseason last year, so this run is new territory for many of them. That inexperience can sting in short playoff formats, where one mistake can swing a game. But it also means room to grow, and motivation to prove they belong.

Thursday’s semifinal will test that. Facing the unbeaten Vikings again gives the Pandas a chance to show how far they have come since that 60-point loss earlier in the season. If they pull off the upset, they will meet either Lethbridge or UBC in Sunday’s final, which will be another steep challenge.

For the Pandas, this weekend is not just about results or podium placement. It is a chance to measure themselves against the best, to build playoff experience, and to set the tone for years ahead. Hosting the championship on home turf makes it even better.

Win or lose, Foote Field will be buzzing with top-level rugby all weekend. So if you want to see where the future of Pandas rugby is headed, or just watch some great Canada West action in-person, make sure to be there Thursday and Sunday.