Mark Wyatt is a long time member of the Velox Valhallians and newly minted Westshore RFC. As a player, Coach, Board of Director, President of our club and as a developer/builder of the rugby community at all levels. He was inducted for his individual efforts and career into shaping and contributing to the sport of rugby as a player into the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2002, UVIC Sports Hal of Fame in 2005, BCRU Hall of Fame in 2007, BC Sports Hall of Fame in Dec 2016. He was once again inducted as part of the 1991 World Cup Canadian Team in May 2018. With the latest induction into the Rugby Canada Hall of Fame in Mar of this year. Below are the various articles documenting these events.
VICTORIA SPORTS HALL OF FAME-PLAYER-2002
He was first inducted as an individual player into the Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2002. Article link below:
https://www.gvshof.ca/inductees-2/all-inductees/32-rugby/93-mark-wyatt-2002.html
UVIC SPORTS HALL OF FAME-PLAYER-2005
Next Mark was inducted into the University of Victoria Sports Hall of Fame in 2005, after playing for the Vikes from 1982-1987:
https://govikesgo.com/hof.aspx?hof=21
BC RUGBY UNION HALL OF FAME-PLAYER-2007
Mark was one of the first players inducted into the BCRU Hall of Fame upon its inception in 2007.
https://www.bcrugby.com/hall-of-fame/
BC SPORTS HALL OF FAME-PLAYER-2016
http://www.bcrugby.com/news_detail/10016466/?tag_id
Vancouver, BC – December 20, 2016: With 29 international caps for Canada between 1982 and 1991, Mark Wyatt recently joined the BC Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2017 Inductees. Wyatt started his rugby career playing at Victoria High School. He later on played for James Bay Athletic Association, University of Victoria (where he graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Coaching Studies), Velox Rugby Football Club and Vancouver Island Crimson Tide.
During his illustrious rugby career, Wyatt represented Canada with 30+ caps, including at the 1987 and 1991 Rugby World Cups and less than a decade ago was inducted into the BC Rugby Hall of Fame. Known for his kicking skills, Wyatt set a Canadian record in 1987 against Ireland when he scored 21 points including 6-for-6 penalty kicks. In 1991 during the Rugby World Cup, against Scotland, Wyatt set a world record with 8 penalty kick goals. As Captain, he led Canada to its best ever World Cup finish, reaching the quarterfinals before falling to the New Zealand All-Blacks. Mark was very active with Canada 7’s play as well in the pre-circuit era. Amassing over 40+ caps with 8 years with Hong Kong 7’s, 2 years playing for Sydney and Scotland 7’s.
After leaving the National Team at age 30, Wyatt acted as a rugby coach at Shawnigan Lake School. He now serves as the President of the Westshore Velox Rugby Football Club as well as a board director of the Canadian Rugby Foundation.
The 51st Induction Class will be formally inducted to the BC Sports Hall of Fame on Wednesday, April 12, 2017 at the annual Banquet of Champions at the Vancouver Convention Centre West.
BC Rugby would like to congratulate Mark Wyatt on this amazing honour and thank him for being a loyal and outstanding member of the BC Rugby community.
BC SPORTS HALL OF FAME-1991 CANADIAN MENS RUGBY TEAM-2016
http://www.bcrugby.com/news_detail/10040318/?tag_id
Vancouver – May 31, 2018: Last night, in a star-studded gala at Parq Vancouver, the BC Sports Hall of Fame inducted the Canadian Men’s 1991 Rugby World Cup Team as part of their Class of 2018. This was a fantastic piece of recognition for a side that was chock full of BC players (23 of 26 individuals) and produced Canada’s best ever result in a Rugby World Cup, reaching the Quarter Finals.
The Class of ’91 are the stuff of legends in the rugby world, household names for rugby families not just in this country, but around the world, particularly the UK where a number of them consolidated their careers. Looking down the roster, names leap off the page as if someone has constructed a Dream Team of that era. While some of these individuals have already received personal induction into the BC Sports Hall of Fame, it was a particularly proud moment to see this team being recognized for its achievement. At the packed Induction Gala last night, almost a third of the 90 tables in the venue were taken up by members of the Canadian rugby community, gathered to celebrate this wonderful occasion. The significance of what the Canadian Men’s team achieved at the 1991 Rugby World Cup was reiterated to all in attendance. A “minnow country” in world rugby at that time, defying the odds to qualify for the Quarter Finals for the first time, outscoring reigning champions New Zealand All Blacks in the second half of that match and securing a record high world ranking of 8th. Canadian rugby royalty seems a suitable moniker given the success that this team achieved and the lasting impact they have had on the sport, not just in Canada, but worldwide.
What is especially noteworthy of this list of players, is how many of them have spent significant chunks of their lives giving back to the sport that we all know and love. Gareth Rees, one of Canada’s most well-known players and the country’s first inductee in the World Rugby Hall of Fame, has been involved in various guises with Rugby Canada. David Speirs dedicate himself to fostering young rugby talent via the BCSSRU, Paul Szabo works tirelessly at Burnaby Lake RFC, while Mark Wyatt coached at Shawnigan Lake and currently serves as president for Westshore Velox RFC. Gary Dukelow was on hand in Dublin this summer as Assistant Coach to the Canadian Women’s XV during the Women’s Rugby World Cup and Patrick Palmer coached the Canadian Men’s Sevens prior to his current role at St George’s School. There’s Eddie Evans, a huge supporter of developing rugby across the province and internationally, past President of BC Rugby John Lecky and Tom Woods, who is heavily involved in developing the youth program at James Bay AA. Rod Holloway, Forwards coach for the team is still very much involved in the game, notable now as the Chair of BC Rugby’s Appeals Committee.
The 1991 Canadian Rugby World Cup Team:
Bruce Breen (Meraloma)
Al Charron (Ottawa Irish)
Gary Dukelow (Cowichan)
Glen Ennis (VC) (Kats Rugby Club)
Eddie Evans (UBCOB Ravens)
John Graf (UBCOB Ravens)
Steve Gray (Kats Rugby Club)
Norm Hadley (UBCOB Ravens)
Dan Jackart (UBCOB Ravens)
Jeff Knauer (Meraloma)
John Lecky (Meraloma)
Dave Lougheed (Toronto Welsh)
Gord MacKinnon (Ex Brit Lions)
Patrick Palmer (UBCOB Ravens)
Roy Radu (James Bay AA)
Gareth Rees (Oak Bay Castaways)
John Robertsen (UBCOB Ravens)
David Speirs (Meralomas)
Christian Stewart (Meralomas)
Scott Stewart (UBCOB Ravens)
Karl Svoboda (Ajax Wanderers)
Paul Szabo (Ex Brit Lions)
Chris Tynan (Meraloma)
Ron van den Brink (Kats Rugby Club)
Tom Woods (James Bay AA)
Mark Wyatt (C) (Velox Valhallians)
RUGBY CANADA HALL OF FAME-PLAYER-2019
Mark will be inducted into the Canadian Rugby Sports Hall of Fame as a player on 26 Apr at Fairmont Empress Hotel.
https://rugby.ca/en/news/2019/01/2018-hall-of-fame-inductees-announced
Tickets for event: