When P.E.I.'s Heather Moyse received an email from World Rugby, she thought it might be announcing an event, but nothing significant.

As she skimmed the contents of the email, she had to go back to the beginning to the word "congratulations."

The email informed Moyse she was being inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

Moment of shock

"It was kind of a moment of shock, I guess," said Moyse, who is the first woman and the second Canadian to be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame.

"It was just very surreal. It's a huge, huge honour."

Moyse, of Summerside, was a leading try scorer when she played for Canada's national rugby team at the 2006 and 2010 Women's Rugby World Cup. She also represented Canada at the 2013 Rugby World Cup Sevens.

Moyse attended the induction ceremony on Nov. 17 in Rugby, England. She said it was overwhelming when footage of her rugby career was played.

Rugby transcends sports

"Nelson Mandela is in that hall of fame and to me, that's a recognition that shows that it's not only what you've been able to contribute on the field, but it's also what you've contributed off the field," she said.

"I've played a lot of different sports. But rugby is the only one that kind of transcends sports. And, it's a culture, it's a community that goes all around the world."

Moyse has also represented Canada internationally in bobsledding and cycling. She won two Olympic gold medals in bobsledding in 2010 and 2014.