Mark Cooksley
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| Mark Cooksley | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | April 11 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Auckland, New Zealand | ||
| Height | 2.05 m (6 ft 81⁄2 in) | ||
| Weight | 125 kg (19 st 10 lb) | ||
| Nickname | Rigger | ||
| School | Manurewa High School | ||
| Rugby union career | |||
| Playing career | |||
| Position | Lock | ||
| All Black No. | 916 | ||
| Provincial/State sides | Caps | (points) | |
| 1990–1993 1994–2001 |
Counties Manukau Waikato |
36 75 |
|
| Super Rugby | |||
| 1996, 1998, 2000–2001 1997 |
Chiefs Hurricanes |
||
| National team(s) | |||
| 1992– 1992–1995, 1997, 2001 |
NZ Māori New Zealand |
11 |
(0) |
Mark Stephen Bill Cooksley (born April 11, 1971 in Auckland, New Zealand) is a former professional rugby union player and All Black lock.
Cooksley holds the distinction of being the tallest All Black ever at an imposing 2.05 meters and 125 kg. He had a long All Black career, spanning from 1992 until 2001. Despite this, Cooksley only played in 23 All Black matches and only 11 All Black tests. Robin Brooke and Ian Jones were often the favoured locking pair during his time.
In 1995 Cooksley gained another distinction when he was a replacement on the end of year tour of France; in his one appearance on tour he became the first All Black to be shown a yellow card, with Irish referee Gordon Black apparently unaware that the red and yellow card system did not then apply to international rugby.
A touch of Māori blood saw him regularly play for New Zealand Māori from 1992 onwards.
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