On January 13th 2024 the Thunder Indigenous Rugby program held a celebration at the Mungo Martin House in downtown Victoria. It was a chance to celebrate past events like the 2023 tour to NZ, the support of our sponsors, and the awarding of the Bear to the Coastal Cup champions, Pacific Pride. It was a chance to celebrate people, like Director John Lyall who will be inducted into the North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Fame this summer, and Director Bobby Ross who has been inducted in the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame, the BC Rugby Hall of Fame and the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame. It was a chance to announce upcoming events like the nominations for the 2024 Phil Mack Indigenous Player of the Year.
The photos below, and newspaper clipping from the Times Colonist, give a pictorial overview of the day.
Thunder board members & North American Indigenous Athletics Hall of Famer John Lyall, BC Rugby and Rugby Canada Hall of Famer Bobby Ross, and Pacific Pride and defender of the Bear Phil Mack!
Thunder recognizes and thanks for all the support, including Dave Jawl (Island Floor Centre), Clay Panga (Shawnigan Lake School), & Mike Holmes (Canadian Rugby Foundation & Pemberton Holmes here with Thunder Board member and BCRU and Rugby Canada Hall of Famer Bobby Ross and Thunder youth Kaleb!
