Q: When did you start playing rugby?
A: I started playing rugby with my High school Elgin Park 3 years ago. Then I started with Bayside Sharks a union team 2 years ago.
Q: What attracted you to the game?
A: I loved being a part of a team who care for each other as much as my team did. I also had a wonderful coach. But the real draw was a friend of mine asked me to come and try it out. I fell in love as soon as I made my first run. It was hard for me at first because I had danced for 12 years before then, but I knew I would love rugby more than I loved to dance. And to this day I still believe that.
Q: What position(s) do you play?
A: I usually play Flanker, prop, second row and the occasional fullback and center.
Q: What are your favourite rugby memories to date?
A: My favorite memories are with my team, playing our hearts out at the last game of provincials last year, as well as scoring my first try.
Q: Tell us a bit about your Aboriginal roots.
A: My father is from Gold River, he is from the Nootka band. My mother is from Hope. My uncle is Chief Rocky Wilson of the Hlitsum-Lamalchi band. He is a great and inspiring leader.
Q: What are your goals for the future?
A: My goals for the future are to work as hard as I can to be the best athlete I can be. To harvest all my skills and power and hopefully continue with rugby onto provincial and national levels.
Q: What are your thoughts on the Thunder program so far?
A: The Thunder program is just so amazing. I love it a lot. It’s really inspiring to see other aboriginal athletes coming out and embracing rugby. It’s super awesome having a rugby player like Phil Mack around. He’s the living, breathing, walking idol of every aboriginal athlete’s dream, being as successful as he is and getting to represent his country is just fantastic. The other athletes are very welcoming and talented as well, it’s great to be able to play with them.
