If there was a dictionary of North American rugby, there would be a picture of Phil Mack beside the entry on 鈥渓eadership.鈥�
The Victoria great captained sa国际传媒 to the 2019 World Cup in Japan with crucial victories over Kenya, Germany and Hong Kong in the last-chance qualifier last month in Marseille, France. That was after leading the Seattle Seawolves to the inaugural professional Major League Rugby championship as the playing head coach.
Mack brings the Seawolves to his hometown today as the Seattle pro club will play the Vancouver Island Crimson Tide at 4 p.m. at Westhills Stadium.
The Crimson Tide roster is comprised of players from James Bay, Castaway Wanderers, UVic Vikes, Westshore RC, Cowichan and Nanaimo and features Canadian national team players Luke Campbell, Ryan Kotlewski, Doug Fraser and Noah Barker.
Mack reminisced about his emotive and eventful year, as he prepared the Seawolves for today鈥檚 meeting with the Tide.
鈥淭he qualifier with sa国际传媒 was one of the most pressure-filled environments I鈥檝e ever experienced,鈥� said Mack.
鈥淚t was a massive relief to have accomplished our goal and qualify for the World Cup. A ton of credit has to go to . . . the support we as players felt from around the country.鈥�
From country to club, it was an equally gratifying year for the 33-year-old scrum-half as Major League Rugby is trying to follow the sort of footstep in North America established by Major League Soccer.
鈥淭he experience in Seattle was great,鈥� said Mack.
鈥淲e have a very talented team and some of the most supportive fans I鈥檝e ever seen.鈥�
Several of the Crimson Tide players will be eying pro careers as the MLR enters its second season of operation in 2019.
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