| Personal information | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | William Henry Clifton Mackrell | |||||
| Born | 20 July 1881 Milton, New South Wales, Australia |
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| Died | 15 July 1917 (aged 35) Auckland, New Zealand |
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| Playing information | ||||||
| Height | 178 cm (5 ft 10 in) | |||||
| Weight | 79 kg (12 st 6 lb) | |||||
| Rugby union | ||||||
| Position | Hooker, Back row | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 1901–1905 | Auckland | |||||
| Representative | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 1906 | New Zealand | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Rugby league | ||||||
| Position | Hooker, Second-row | |||||
| Club | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 1910 | Newton | |||||
| Representative | ||||||
| Years | Team | Pld | T | G | FG | P |
| 1907–1908 | New Zealand | 2 | ||||
| 1908–19?? | Auckland | |||||
| Source: RLP | ||||||
William "Bill" Henry Clifton Mackrell[1] was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented his country in both rugby union and rugby league. He was part of the 1905 The Original All Blacks tour and the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.
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Mackrell was a printer by trade.[2]
Mackrell began playing rugby union for the City Newton club. He represented Auckland between 1901 and 1905 and earned North Island selection in 1905. His last first class rugby union match in New Zealand was for Auckland against the All Blacks in 1905 as they prepared for a short tour of Australia.
Mackrell was then selected to be part of the The Original All Blacks 1905 tour of Great Britain and France but injury hampered his tour and he played in only one test match, against France in Paris on New Years Day, 1906. On his return he was replaced in the Auckland side by Charlie Dunning.
Mackrell, along with Newton team mates Harold Rowe and William Trevarthan, was selected for the professional All Blacks in their 1907-1908 tour of Great Britain and Australia. As a result he received a life ban from the New Zealand Rugby Union. He played in two test matches on the tour, including the first ever rugby league test match against Wales on New Years Day, 1908.
When he returned to New Zealand, Mackrell was involved in establishing the Newton rugby league club.[2] He also played in the first ever provincial game of rugby league in New Zealand, helping Auckland defeat Wellington 16-14 on 24 August 1908. Mackrell received a kick to the head in a 1912 match which forced his retirement and may have also led to his early death.
Mackrell died in Auckland on 15 July 1917 as a result of a paralytic seizure, five days before his 36th birthday.
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