Gary Mercer

Gary Mercer
Personal information
Full name Gary Ivan Mercer
Born (1966-06-22) 22 June 1966
New Zealand
Playing information
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Position Wing, Fullback, Second-row

Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Pikiao (BOPRL)
1987–89 Bradford Northern
1990–91 Warrington
1992–97 Leeds Rhinos 43 0 0 172
1998–01 Halifax Blue Sox 76 16 0 0 64
2001 Warrington Wolves 18 2 0 0 8
2001 Leeds Rhinos 6 0 0 0 0
2002 Castleford Tigers 1 0 0 0 0
Total 101 61 0 0 244
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Bay of Plenty
Northern Districts
New Zealand Māori
1987–93 New Zealand 21 4 0 0 16
1988 Rest of the World 1 0 1 0 2
Coaching information
Rugby league

Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1999–00 Halifax 58 22 1 35 38
2004 Castleford Tigers 21 6 0 15 29
Total 79 28 1 50 35
Rugby union

Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2004-12
2012-14		 Glasgow Warriors
Scottish Rugby Academy
Glasgow Hawks
Biggar
Source: RLP

Gary Ivan Mercer (born 22 June 1966) is a New Zealand rugby league and rugby union coach and former professional footballer. A New Zealand international representative player, he has spent most of his career in Britain both playing and coaching. He was a former defence coach of Glasgow Warriors and a former coach at the SRU working in their Scottish Rugby Academy.[1] He is currently head coach of Biggar RFC.

Playing career

In his long career he has represented the New Zealand Kiwis within rugby league and New Zealand Māori sides and has played for the Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Northern, Warrington Wolves, Castleford Tigers and Halifax.[2]

Challenge Cup Final appearances

Gary Mercer played right-centre, i.e. number 3, in Warrington's 14-36 defeat by Wigan in the 1990 Challenge Cup Final during the 1989–90 season at Wembley Stadium, London on Saturday 28 April 1990, in front of a crowd of 77,729.[3]

County Cup Final appearances

Gary Mercer played fullback in Bradford Northern's 12-12 draw with Castleford in the 1987 Yorkshire County Cup Final during the 1987–88 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 17 October 1987, and played left-centre, i.e. number 4, in the 11-2 victory over Castleford in the 1987 Yorkshire County Cup Final replay during the 1987–88 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday 31 October 1987.

Regal Trophy Final appearances

Gary Mercer played left-second-row, i.e. number 11, in Warrington's 12-2 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1990–91 Regal Trophy Final during the 1990–91 season at Headingley Rugby Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 12 January 1991.

Coaching career

Rugby League

Mercer was also the player-coach at Halifax and Castleford.[4][5]

Rugby Union

Glasgow Warriors

Mercer switched to Rugby Union and became the defence coach for the Glasgow Warriors from June 2005[1] to June 2012[6] leaving the Warriors at the same time as Sean Lineen. While he was there praise was heaped on his defensive coaching.[7]

Scotland

He became the Scotland Under-20 assistant coach and worked with the Under-21 side.[8] He then worked for the Scottish Rugby Academy.[9]

Yorkshire Carnegie

He left the Scottish academy in August 2014[10] to have a brief spell running Yorkshire Carnegie.[11]

Glasgow Hawks

Mercer was the Head Coach of Glasgow Hawks.[12]

Biggar

Mercer moved on to Biggar.[13]

Family

Mercer currently lives with a son, Zach, a daughter, Clara, and his wife, Karen, in Glasgow, Scotland. He also has twin daughters residing in Australia. Gary has 4 brothers and played alongside his older brother Danny for Central Rugby League in the Bay of Plenty.

References

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