BC Rugby is delighted to announce the Class of 2024 Inductees into the BC Rugby Hall of Fame, with the event set to return to the Lower Mainland this Fall. 

The Class of 2024 features seven Inductees into the BC Rugby Hall of Fame and includes some of the biggest names from British Columbia and Canadian Rugby’s recent history.  

We invite you to join us in congratulating the 2024 BC Rugby Hall of Fame Inductees: 

Chris Tynan – Player

A British Columbia and Rugby Canada legend, Chris Tynan’s Rugby resume glistens with outstanding achievements. As a player, Chris was one of the most talented scrum-halves to come out of BC in a golden generation of athletes. A superb and fierce competitor, Chris represented BC before selection to Canada’s National Teams in both XVs and Rugby 7s formats. He earned 19 Caps in 10 years, and represented his country at the 1991 Rugby World Cup.  

Eddie Evans – Player

Eddie Evans will be inducted into the BC Rugby Hall of Fame as someone who has shaped Canadian Rugby both on and off the field. Eddie amassed 50 Caps for Canada over a 14-year period and represented his country at three Rugby World Cups. As the founder of X-Treme Rugby Wear and the Friends of Rugby program, Eddie has supported the BC Rugby community immensely throughout the years.  

George Puil – Player

A talented Rugby and football player, George Puil will be inducted into the BC Rugby Hall of Fame with an impressive record. Having represented British Columbia against some of the world’s biggest Rugby nations, including Australia and the British & Irish Lions, George is known for his outstanding leadership both on and off the field.  

Gary Fumano – Builder

Gary “Gus” Fumano’s accomplishments in Rugby as a player and administrator at Club, Provincial, and National levels warrant his induction into the BC Rugby Hall of Fame. Fumano is a four-time Rounsefell Cup winner with the Meraloma Rugby Club, and represented his province from 1966-1969. He played on the BC side that defeated the British & Irish Lions in 1966. Gary has served as a Rugby administrator for over 30 years and managed several successful BC Representative teams throughout the 1970s. He is a past President of Meraloma Rugby Club and was awarded the Club’s highest award, the R.D. Hayes Award, in 1974.   

Ian Hyde-Lay – Builder

Ian Hyde-Lay’s body of work in Rugby as a player, coach, administrator and referee earns him recognition in the Builder’s category of the BC Rugby Hall of Fame. As a player, Ian represented Shawnigan Lake School, Cowichan Rugby Club, Vancouver Island Tide, British Columbia and the Canadian National Team. He coached for 39 years at St Michael’s University School in Victoria, and enjoyed spells at Castaway Wanderers RFC, Vancouver Island Tide, Canada U20 and Canada West. Ian was a successful referee and officiated countless school, Club, sub-Union and inter-provincial matches, and earned international officiating appointments on the World Rugby Sevens tour and the Rugby World Cup Sevens.  

Rod Holloway – Builder

Rod Holloway remains one of BC’s and Canada’s most successful Coaches and is inducted into the BC Rugby Hall of Fame with top honours. Rod, who represented the North Shore All Blacks (now Capilano RFC), UBC and Meraloma Rugby Club as a player, began his coaching career in 1976 and enjoyed successes at Club, provincial and national levels. He coached Canada at two Rugby World Cups and steered Canada’s forwards in victories over France, England, Wales, Japan and Argentina, and narrow World Cup losses to New Zealand and South Africa. Rod was an influential Coach at UBC, nurturing several generations of talented players and future Coaches, and also enjoyed success with the BC Bears.   

William Turpin – Builder

William “Bill”  Turpin has impacted the lives of hundreds of male and female rugby players in British Columbia in over 35+ years of building the sport in the province beginning in 1963. He was a dedicated coach at the school, club, sub-union, age group and provincial levels at various times in his career. He founded the Langley Rugby Club and was also the first Coach and captain, before he became club President and devoted 17 years to the club. Bill played on the inaugural teams of three longstanding BC clubs: Richmond, Pocomo (now United RC), and Langley, in addition to the Red Lions and Brit Lions. Throughout his career, Bill has been actively involved in coaching representative Rugby for the Vancouver Rugby Union and BC Rugby, and also served as a BCRU Vice-President.