EVADING THE SKIPPER – French captain Thierry Dusautoir goes to tackle Canadian Phil Mack during their Rugby World Cup Pool D match on Thursday. France won 41-18. AP Photo/Christophe Ena

REPRESENTING THE NORTH – Canada’s Phil Mack throws the ball during a Rugby World Cup Pool D match between France and Canada at Stadium MK in Milton Keynes, England, Oct. 1. AP Photo/Matt Dunham

Ex-Yukoner starring for Canada on rugby pitch Canadian scrum half Phil Mack said his love for team sport was born right here in Yukon. By Marcel Vander Wier on October 5, 2015

Canadian scrum half Phil Mack said his love for team sport was born right here in Yukon.

The 30-year-old Victoria native is representing the nation at the Rugby World Cup in England this month.

Mack spent six years of his childhood in Whitehorse, after his mother accepted a teaching position at Ecole Whitehorse Elementary.

In 1994, Mack and his older brother and sister made the move to the Yukon capital, where they resided until 2000.

The family lived in Porter Creek, then Riverdale, while Mack attended Christ the King Elementary followed by Vanier Catholic Secondary School.

At that time, Mack hadn’t yet discovered rugby, but was a soccer standout, playing for local development teams.

“That was where my love for sport, competition and teamwork really started to grow,” he said in an email to the Star last week.

So far, Canada has dropped all three of their contests at the World Cup – 50-7 versus Ireland Sept. 19, 23-18 to Italy Sept. 26, and 41-18 to France on Thursday last week.

Their final game will take place tomorrow against Romania – the other winless team in Pool D.

Canada is currently ranked 18th in the world. Meanwhile, Ireland is ranked second, Italy 15th, France seventh and Romania 17th.

Only the top two teams in each of the four pools will advance to the quarter-finals.

“Our goal was to qualify for the quarters and (that) had to be readjusted after the losses,” Mack admitted. “Now our goal is to beat Romania in our last game and end on a high.”

Mack will be back on the Canadian bench in favour of Gordon McRorie Tuesday after winning a starting position against France last week.

Previously, Mack came on as a replacement versus Ireland and Italy. Some believe he could be an x-factor if the Romanian troops tire quickly.

“The start versus France was very special,” said the five-foot-seven, 170-pound speedster. “They are one of the world’s best teams and I feel we stuck with them for a good 65, 70 minutes.

“Unfortunately, we let some late ones in that muddled the scoreline, but we played expansive rugby. The fans seemed entertained.”

The loss to the French followed an inspiring contest against Italy, a game Canada initially led 10-0.

Regardless of results, Mack said the experience at the Rugby World Cup has been a career highlight.

“Despite the losses, we have played some good rugby against the world’s best,” he said.

“I think we have played a tough, determined and gritty style and the Canadian fans have embraced it. We have felt the love from all over Canada and can’t express how much it drives us forward.”

Mack discovered rugby post-Yukon, learning the game in his high school gym class.

A member of the Toquaht First Nation, Mack went on to make his debut for Canada in 2009.

As a scrum half, Mack plays in the midfield. His role is to remove the ball from scrums, then pass it on to teammates. Scrum halfs and fly halfs are responsible for game strategy.

During Canada’s first game against Ireland, Minister of Community Services Currie Dixon tweeted his support for the former Yukoner.

“@RugbyCanada in tough (versus Ireland) but it sure is awesome to see Yukoner Phil Mack tearing it up,” said Dixon.