Mark Cooksley

Mark Cooksley
Date of birth 11 April 1971 (1971-04-11) (age 40)
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Height 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
Weight 125 kg (19 st 10 lb)
School Manurewa High School
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position Lock
New Zealand No. 916
Provincial/State sides
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1990–1993
1994–2001
Counties Manukau
Waikato
36
75
Super Rugby
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1996, 1998, 2000–2001
1997
Chiefs
Hurricanes
National team(s)
Years Club / team Caps (points)
1992–
1992–1995, 1997, 2001
NZ Māori
New Zealand

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Mark Stephen Bill Cooksley (born 11 April 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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