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)
Nickname	Rigger
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	11	(0)

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.

External links

• Mark Cooksley at AllBlacks.com

Persondata
Name	Cooksley, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	11 April 1971
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Date of death
Place of death