Seattle Seawolves & Phil Mack

The Seattle Seawolves announced that Canadian international scrumhalf Phil Mack will be back with the team for the 2019 Major League Rugby season. Mack is 33 years old, 5’7″, and 170 pounds. He led the team to the 2018 Major League Rugby Championship as head coach and as a player.

Mack is from Victoria, British Columbia and according to BC Rugby, he started playing rugby in 10th grade at Oak Bay High School in Victoria, B.C. There he was coached by Gary Johnson in 2000-2003.

Canada National Team

In 2003 Mack gained his first international experience, playing for the Canadian Under-19s in Durban, South Africa.

In 2006 Mack debuted for the Canada Sevens team in Hong Kong and has since earned 52 caps on the HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series. At the 2016 USA Sevens, he became the first Canadian and the 29th player to earn his 50th cap. He is also ranked 24th for most points scored on the Sevens Series circuit with 973. He played in 269 matches and scored 95 tries.

In 2009 Mack debuted for the Canada XVs team against Ireland in May 2009. His last match was in the 2019 Rugby World Cup Qualifier against the U.S. on June 23, 2018. Mack earned 52 caps for Canada, starting 27 of them. He also played in the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

Mack has also played in two Pan American Games, winning back to back Gold Medals for Canada. He also played in the Commonwealth Games.

Phil was honored with the Canadian Shield award in 2013.

Amateur Rugby & Coaching

Phil Mack has played club rugby with the UVic Vikes, the BC Bears, and with James Bay AA.

Mack was one of the founders of The First Nations Thunder organization. He is a member of the Toquaht First Nation on Vancouver Island and an article by Chris Perrotte provides extensive background about the nation and rugby.

Mack coached Thunder Rugby, which is sought to develop rugby in the Indigenous communities. The program supports U14-18 boys and girls rugby.

Photo: Chris Perrotte – Phil Mack & Thunder Rugby

Professional Rugby

Prior to Phil Mack playing professional rugby for the 2018 Major League Rugby Seattle Seawolves, Phil also had a short-term contract in 2013 with the Ospreys.