Marc Ellis (rugby footballer)

Infobox Rugby biography
name = Marc (Batman) Ellis
caption =
birthname = Marc Christopher Gwynne Ellis
nickname =
birthyear = 1971
birthmonth = 10
birthday = 8
placeofbirth = Wellington, New Zealand
dateofdeath =
placeofdeath =
height = height|m=1.78
weight = convert|82|kg|stlb|abbr=on
ru_position = Utility Back
allblackid = 255
allblackno = 926
rl_position = Utility Back
ru_nationalyears = 1992–1993, 1995
ru_nationalteam = New Zealand
ru_nationalcaps = 8
ru_nationalpoints = (55)
ru_ntupdate =
rl_proclubs = Auckland Warriors
New Zealand Kiwis
rl_clubyears = 1996–1997
1996-1997
rl_clubcaps =
rl_clubpoints =
rl_clubupdate =
super14 = Auckland Blues
Highlanders
super14years = 1999
2000
super14caps =
super14points =
ru_provinceyears = 1991-1995
1998-2000
ru_province = Otago
North Harbour
ru_provincecaps =
ru_provincepoints =
ru_provinceupdate =
occupation =
spouse =
children =
relatives =
school = Wellington College
university = University of Otago

Marc Christopher Gwynne Ellis (born October 8, 1971) is a former New Zealand rugby league and rugby union player, businessman, and television presenter. His primary business interests are in Charlie's, a juice company. Ellis is a graduate of the University of Otago. He gained infamy in 2005 for purchasing drugs from a dealer who was under surveillance by the New Zealand Police.Cite news|author=Louisa Cleave|title=Marc Ellis resigns from Charlie's, holds on to TV job|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10342698|publisher=NZ Herald|date=2005-08-27]

During the 1995 Rugby World Cup he scored 6 tries in a game against Japan, which is the record for the most tries by an individual in a Rugby World Cup match.cite web|url=http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/statistics/season=0/type=Points/team=0/player=0/records/index.html|title=Player Records (RWC Overall) |publisher=rugbyworldcup.com |accessdate=2007-12-12]

In 2006 he released his autobiography, "Crossing the Line", which details all aspects of his life.Cite news|author=Linda Herrick|title=Marc Ellis writes next chapter|url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=18&objectid=10404805|publisher=NZ Herald|date=2006-10-07]

All Blacks

Marc Ellis first played for the All Blacks in 1992, when he played against a South Australian Invitation XV. Ellis did not get to play in any test matches in 1992, only playing against Australian club and invitation sides. Ellis got the chance to play a test in 1993 when he started at first five-eighth against Scotland, the All Blacks went on to win 51-15 and Ellis scored two tries. A week after the Scotland test Ellis was selected for the test against England where he also played first five. Ellis played his last match of 1993 against the Barbarians. For the 1994 season, Ellis was not selected for the All Blacks and did not attented the NZ trial due to injury, but he did play for the New Zealand XV and New Zealand Universities sides. In 1995 Ellis was called back into the All Blacks for the Rugby World Cup. Ellis played in five matches in the 1995 world cup, playing at wing rather than first five. He scored scored seven tries in the tournament, six of them came in the 145-17 win over japan, where Ellis has still got the record for most tries for an All Black in a test.

NPC

Marc Ellis started out for Otago in the NPC in 1991 when he was playing for the club side University. Ellis made a name for himself while playing for Otago, which earnt him an All Blacks selection in 1992. Ellis stayed with Otago until 1995 when he made the switch to rugby league. In 1998 after two seasons of league, Ellis played for North Harbour in the NPC, where he remained for another two seasons. Ellis played his last season of NPC in 2000 for North Harbour.

uper 12

Ellis missed out on the first few seasons of the Super 12 due to his league career, but when he returned to rugby in 1998 it was only a short time before he was into the Super 12. After playing a solid season for North Harbour in the NPC Ellis was picked for the Blues, where he played one season. In 2000 Ellis played his final Super 12 season for the Highlanders before retiring from rugby.

Other Squads

Marc Ellis has had a great rugby career, playing for the All Blacks, playing in the 1995 Rugby World Cup, and NPC wins over South Africa and the British and Irish Lions are just a few of his achievements, but Ellis did make other teams that any player would be proud of. In 1991 after a good season for Otago in the NPC he was selected for the NZ Colts. In 1992 Ellis played for the Saracens and played the Harlequins in 1995. In 1999 after strong seasons with North Harbour and the Blues, Ellis was named in one of the early training squads for the 1999 World Cup, but he was never selected in the final team and played for NZ A instead.

Rugby League

Marc Ellis was not only a talented rugby union player, he was also a gifted rugby league player. At the end of the 1995 season Ellis switched to league to play for the Auckland Warriors. Ellis was warrior number 29 when he played his first match in 1996. He played for the wariors from 1996-1998, playing 36 matches and scoring 103 points through 11 tries, 29 goals and 1 field goal. He also appeared for the Kiwis in five tests and was as proud of that as he was of his games with the All Blacks. But in league as he had in union Ellis suffered from an uncertainty as to which position was his best.

Controversy

Ellis has long courted controversy.
*In 2005 he purchased ecstasy tablets from a drug dealer who was under surveillance by the New Zealand Police. Ellis was among many high-profile figures caught in the operation, code-named Aqua. His court appearance put an end to a poorly-kept secret, as despite the fact he had originally obtained name suppression, his identity was widely known by the New Zealand public. Ellis was fined $300.
*November 15, 2007 Ellis detonated 600 kilos of explosives on top of Rangitoto Island, a nature reserve in Auckland harbor, as part of an elaborate marketing ploy for his latest business venture. This was widely regarded as callous as it was potentially harmful to the islands Native wildlife and forest. The New Zealand Department of Conservation described the stunt as "demoralising and very disappointing". There is a total fire ban on the island because of ecological significance. At the time of writing NZDOC was investigating Ellis and was looking at seeking further legal advice on whether it can take the matter to court. [Cite news|title=Ellis publicity stunt distresses residents|url=http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/1448304|publisher=tvnz.co.nz|date=2007-11-15]

Conversion to Hinduism

In May 2007, while filming How the Other Half Live, a documentary on minority groups in New Zealand, Ellis converted to Hinduism and joined the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, a worldwide Hindu organization that follows the Gaudiya Vaishnava sampradaya (spiritual lineage). He was spotted with his head shaved and wearing a dhoti, a traditional Indian garment worn by many members of the society. The New Zealand Herald ran a headline stating "Marc Ellis joins the Hare Krishnas".

References

External links

* [http://www.rugbymuseum.co.nz/ABProfilee.asp?level1=All_Blacks&Level2=ABC&IDID=255 Marc Ellis at rugbymuseum.co.nz]
* [http://www.listener.co.nz/printable,3420.sm The Listener 2004 Power List] : Ellis is listed as no. 49. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
* [http://www.sportsfreak.co.nz/show-column.asp?ID=230 Sports Comedy Shows and New Lad Culture in NZ] . Retrieved 30 November 2006 from www.sportsfreak.co.nz.
* [http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/6/story.cfm?c_id=6&objectid=10442055 Marc Ellis joins the Hare Krishnas] New Zealand Herald- May 27, 2007
* [http://www.warriors.co.nz/page/warriors_1995_2008_player_roster.html]
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