As the London Sevens approaches it seems clear barring injury that Phil Mack will reach the 50 th Cap mark for his country at Twickenham next month.

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Darcy Neal
5 years ago
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1 Sevens Mack Will Reach 50 Caps in London As the London Sevens approaches it seems clear barring injury that Phil Mack will reach the 50 th Cap mark for his country at Twickenham next month. It is an extraordinary accomplishment by the young man who debuted for Canada at Hong Kong in Our sevens history will confirm that this milestone has been reached only once before by Shane Thompson at George, South Africa in Since 2006 Mack has dazzled the crowds at sevens venues across the globe with his skill, speed and courage. He has filled many roles on our national team over the years including captaining his country. As we review his many accomplishments for Canada it may be best to follow Mack in a series of photographs over the years and as we do so it is certain that had Mack been playing for one of the top teams on the circuit not only would he have been photographed more but he would have received even more recognition for his sevens skills and those accomplishments but he is a Canadian, our hero and his records will always have a Maple Leaf attached to them. Phil Mack has scored a massive 817 points for his country and joins the amazing David Moonlight in the irb record books both Mack and Moonlight stand in 19 th place presently Mack is 19 th in Player Points and Moonlight is 19 th in all time tries. Both players have been students at the University of Victoria - Canada s rugby nursery and both players continued their rugby careers after school graduation at the historic James Bay Athletic Association club in Victoria. The commitment to play for Canada since 2006 has been massive for Phil Mack (and his team-mates) over the years the circuit has grown, prospered and developed since its inception and with it the margins between teams involved have increased dramatically. Now across the globe sevens players are contracted and paid handsomely for representing their countries and while Canada has understandably lagged behind that development the commitment of its players has not. Presently we stand seventh in the irb Standings and there is every hope that we can overtake Samoa when the dust settles in London and the Series concludes in May it would be a massive achievement for this team and for the staff. Player meetings during April revealed that there was consensus amongst the athletes that they wanted to take the best team to Scotland and England in order to achieve that goal. That has not always been the case as the busy fifteens schedule kicks off in May and the demands from the flagship program come into play.

However this is clearly the correct decision and it is a credit to the staff involved that they have listened to the players at long last finishing

Phil Mack will take off for Scotland next Saturday with his team-mates and a chance to make sevens history on two fronts good for him and good for his

2 However this is clearly the correct decision and it is a credit to the staff involved that they have listened to the players at long last finishing sixth in the rugby world for a hockey nation is huge and the effort by the players involved to get to this point is unparalleled. Phil Mack will take off for Scotland next Saturday with his team-mates and a chance to make sevens history on two fronts good for him and good for his team. Phil Mack is a beauty! Good luck Phil and good luck Canada! Photos over the Years Mack chasing down South African star Kabamba Floors Phil scoring at Emirates Dubai Sevens

3 Phil snoozing in the Dubai heat Photo ID to get into the Emir s palace in Dubai!

4 Mack on the move If they don t increase my pay I am going to Liverpool FC.

5 Catch me if you can Poster Boy Phil Mack

6 Team photo Westpac Stadium, Wellington Mack-Attack versus New Zealand Phil showing England s Ben Gollings his moves

7 Team Photo - Wellington USA Sevens Ad in Las Vegas maybe after Phil lost at the tables!

8 Phil helping New Zealand captain DJ Forbes to his feet Try in Vegas! Sensational try versus New Zealand in Las Vegas

9 Phil wrong footing a French player TRY!

10 Warm-up at Macdonald Park for JBAA

11 Showing a Scottish player his back Podium finish with Sean Duke, Nathan Hirayama and Team

12 Podium finish in Dubai Changing room with team-mate and JBAA player John Moonlight Canada s Sevens player of 2013

13 Not stopping for sushi More Poster Ops

14 Podium honours in Hong Kong Training in Hong Kong with John Moonlight Phil handing out discipline at mini rugby clinic!

15 Phil Mack - Canadian Sevens super star! Phil Mack Sevens Record (48 Caps) Debut Hong Kong WS Hong Kong, China Singapore Paris, France London, England

16 WS Dubai, United Arab Emirates George, South Africa Wellington, New Zealand San Diego, USA Hong Kong, China Adelaide, Australia London, England Edinburgh, Scotland WS Dubai, United Arab Emirates George, South Africa Wellington, New Zealand San Diego, USA Hong Kong, China Adelaide, Australia London, England Edinburgh, Scotland WS Wellington, NZ San Diego, USA 2009 RWC Dubai, United Arab Emirates WS Hong Kong, China WS Wellington, NZ Las Vegas, USA WS Hong Kong, China WS London, England Edinburgh, Scotland

17 CWG Delhi, India WS Hong Kong, China WS London, England Edinburgh, Scotland Pan American Games Guadalajara, Mexico WS Dubai, UAE (Port Elizabeth, South Africa) injured in Dubai RWC Qualifier Ottawa WS Gold Coast, Australia WS Dubai, UAE Port Elizabeth, South Africa WS Wellington, New Zealand (Las Vegas, USA) Injured WS Glasgow, Scotland London, England RWC Moscow, Russia WS Dubai, UAE Port Elizabeth, South Africa

18 WS Las Vegas, USA WS Wellington, New Zealand WS Hong Kong, China ( WS Glasgow, Scotland London, England) - pending

HSBC WORLD RUGBY SEVENS SERIES 2019

hamilton Notes! The HSBC World Rugby Sevens Series returns to Hamilton for the second time after relocating last year following 18 consecutive tournaments in Wellington.! New Zealand hold the Sevens Series