[5] After high school, he moved to Cape Town to join the Western Province Rugby Institute.
He started nine matches for the Western Province U19 team during the 2014 Under-19 Provincial Championship, scoring four tries.
[7] His fourth try came in their 29–22 victory over Free State U19 in the semi-finals[8] to send them to the final, which they also won, beating Phillips' old side the Blue Bulls 33–26.
[9] He made his first class debut during the 2015 Vodacom Cup, coming on as a replacement for Western Province in their 32–12 victory over a Sharks XV.
[13] Phillips made twelve appearances for Western Province U21 in the 2015 Under-21 Provincial Championship, scoring tries against Golden Lions U21,[14] Blue Bulls U21,[15] Leopards U21[16] and a brace in their return leg against the Blue Bulls in Cape Town[17] to help his side finish top of the log.