Phil Mack to be Inducted into Victoria Sports Hall of Fame – Dinner and Ceremony on November 7th, 2026
There’s a certain amount of irony in posting about one of Canada’s greatest 7s players getting inducted into the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame a day after posting about Rugby Canada bringing someone over from Scotland to coach the Canada 7s team, but here we are. The induction ceremony is being held November 7th at the Victoria Ocean Pointe Resort, the HoF announcement is here, tickets can be purchased here. Phil not only had an outstanding career as a national team XVs and 7s player, a UVic and JBAA player, he had a remarkable record coaching. He led BC to a national title as a player/coach then went to the MLR and led the Seattle Seawolves to two back to back championships as a player/coach. He was part of the Rugby Canada coaching team first with the Pacific Pride academy then as Attack Coach with the senior XVs team. We’ve put a few photos from our archives below, also appended is the Greater Victoria Hall of Fame announcement.
2010 Mack and Serevi
2007 JBAA
2012 UVic Vikes
2014 vs France
2006 Dubai vs South Africa
2010 UVic Vikes
2008 vs NZ
2014 Vegas
2013 Dubai vs USA
UVic Vikes vs Capilano
2015 Dubai
Hirayama, Serevi, Mack at Vancouver 7s
2017 MacTier Cup BC Bears player/coach
from Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame
Five athletes, one coach, one official and one builder highlight the Class of 2026
Victoria, B.C. – The Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame Board of Directors are pleased to announce that five athletes, one coach, one official and one builder will be inducted into the Hall of Fame on November 7, 2026 at the Induction Dinner & Ceremony, presented by TD Bank.
This year’s inductees represent excellence across a wide range of sports and contributions to the sporting community—locally, nationally, and internationally. Each inductee has made an enduring impact on the sporting landscape of Greater Victoria and beyond.
“This year is the 32nd induction ceremony and dinner for the Greater Victoria Sports Hall of Fame and this year’s inductees are great champions of their sports,” said Doug Jennings, President of the GVSHoF Board of Directors. “I look forward to celebrating their accomplishments on November 7, 2026 with their many friends and family members as well as our community members and supporters.”
Athletes being inducted this year include Ron Grahame (hockey), Phil Mack (rugby), Riley McCormick (diving), Melanie McQuaid (XTERRA and Triathlon) and Bruce Twamley (soccer). In the Coach category, Peter Vizsolyi (swimming), Official category, Keith Newell (athletics), and Builder category (Royal Victoria Yacht Club) are being inducted.
Phil Mack – Athlete/Coach – Rugby
Phil is one of the most accomplished and influential figures in Canadian rugby history, distinguished not only by his sustained excellence as an international athlete, professional player, and elite coach, but also by his exceptional leadership and character. A Victoria member and proud member of the Toquaht First Nation, Phil represented Canada at the highest level for more than a decade earning 59 caps with Canada’s Senior Men’s XV’s team between 2009 and 2019 and competing at the 2015 and 2019 World Cups. He also appeared in 52 international tournaments with Canada’s men’s sevens program, becoming the most capped player in that program’s history, winning gold medals at the 2011 and 2015 Pan American Games, and earning selection to the HSBC World Sevens Dream Team following Canada’s best ever series finish in 2013-14. He played for the UVic Vikes and is a founding member and player/coach of the Seattle Seawolves which won back-to-back Major League Rugby Championships in 2018 and 2019. He was Head Coach and Technical Lead of Rugby Canada’s Pacific Pride Development Academy and in 2024, he was appointed Attack Coach for Canada’s Men’s National Team. Phil is a role model within the Indigenous community and across BC sport.