- Mark Regan
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Mark Regan MBE Full name Mark Peter Regan Date of birth 28 January 1972 Place of birth Bristol, England Height 5 ft 9 in (1.77 m) Weight 15 st 10 lb (100 kg) Nickname Ronnie School St. Brendan's Sixth Form College Rugby union career Playing career Position Hooker Professional / senior clubs Years Club / team Caps (points) 1997-2002
2002-2005
1991-1997, 2005-2009Bath
Leeds Tykes
Bristol Rugby
69
113
(30)
(30)correct as of 17 Aug 2007. National team(s) Years Club / team Caps (points) 1995-2008,
1997England
British and Irish Lions46
1(15)
(0)correct as of 9 Sept 2007. Mark 'Ronnie' Regan MBE (born 28 January 1972 in Bristol) is an English rugby union player. He has played as a hooker for Bristol, Bath, Leeds Tykes as well as England and the British Lions.
Career
Regan's England breakthrough came when he succeeded Brian Moore in 1995 for the visit of South Africa to Twickenham in November. He became the first player to make his England debut in the professional era of rugby union, which began in August of that year. Although Lawrence Dallaglio made his England debut in the same match, he came off the bench, whilst Regan was in the starting XV. Despite being on the losing side, he retained his place for the 1996 and 1997 Five Nations championships.
Selected for the 1997 British and Irish Lions tour to South Africa, Regan had a notable rivalry with Keith Wood. Although he was kept out of the first and second tests by the Irishman, Regan did play in the final test.[1]
He lost form on his return from Lions duty and lost his England place to new club mate Andy Long and then Richard Cockerill. Even though he played a major role in Bath's Heineken Cup victory over Brive in Bordeaux, the hooker was out of favour with England Coach Clive Woodward.
1999/2000 saw the re-emergence of Regan as a player: he shed over a stone in weight and hit back at critics who believed his line-out throwing was too inconsistent for international level by turning in some impressive performances for Bath. A prominent figure in the clubs late season challenge for the Allied Dunbar Premiership, he was voted the Bath forward of the year.
Regan returned to the international scene as a training squad member and England A player. He returned to the England squad on the tour to South Africa in 2000. He played some of the best rugby of his career and selection for the autumn internationals followed. Phil Greening's knee and hand injuries allowed him to take over as England's number one hooker for the Six Nations Championship; however, Clive Woodward opted for Leicester Tigers Dorian West and Regan was forced to sit on the bench for most of the campaign.
Though he missed out on the Lions tour to Australia during the summer, Regan was selected for England's summer tour. However, hindered by his injury, Regan struggled to find his early season form. He remained part of the England set-up for the 2001-2002 season and again went on tour in the summer to Argentina.
Regan joined Leeds Tykes in August 2002 from Bath and quickly became a central figure at Headingley. He made his debut on the opening day of the 2002-2003 season in a 26-13 win over Leicester Tigers. After moving to Leeds his displays not only saw him become a crowd favourite but also saw a revival in his international career, as he was selected for the England squad for the 2003 Rugby World Cup.
Regan announced his international retirement in 2004 after not being selected for the game against Canada. He left Leeds at the end of the 2004-05 season having helped secure Leeds Premiership status, as well as winning a Powergen Cup winners medal. He played 69 times for Leeds and scored 6 tries. In 2005-6 he was instrumental in helping newly promoted Bristol Rugby (his hometown club) retain their Premiership status. He came out of international retirement in 2007 and was impressive in England's otherwise lacklustre tour of South Africa. Consequently he was named in the England squad for the 2007 Rugby World Cup. He was also named in the England squad for the 2008 Six Nations Championship alongside Leicesters George Chuter and Baths Lee Mears.
After the world cup, Regan was selected to captain the Barbarians against South Africa but was refused permission to play from Bristol.[2][3] However, Regan ignored the club and played the game anyway.[4][5]
After England beat France 24-13 in Paris in the 2008 Six Nations Championship, Regan was described by French coach Marc Lièvremont as a 'grotesque clown'.[6] This was to be Regan's last appearance for England.
In February 2009, Regan announced his intention to retire at the end of the season.[7]
He is now Forwards Coach at Clifton Rugby Club playing a part in leading them to the South West One title and the EDF Cup Final at Twickenham.
He is also currently involved in the buy-to-let property market, working with property investment companies Midas Estates and Property Investment Plan.
References
- ^ "Mark Regans profile". Lionsrugby.com. http://www.lionsrugby.com/6012.php?player=364&includeref=dynamic. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
- ^ Gallagher, Brendan (26 November 2007). "Bristol refuse to release Mark Regan". The Telegraph. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/international/southafrica/2326811/Bristol-refuse-to-release-Mark-Regan.html. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
- ^ "Bristol hooker Regan told: Play for Barbarians and you'll be in breach of contract". The Daily Mail. 27 November 2007. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/article-496756/Bristol-hooker-Regan-told-Play-Barbarians-youll-breach-contract.html. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
- ^ Hands, David (29 November 2007). "Mark Regan makes statement by opting to lead the Barbarians". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/rugby_union/article2963583.ece. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
- ^ Glover, Tim (3 December 2007). "Barbarians 22 South Africa 5: Robinson savours 'brilliant' last hurrah". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/barbarians-22-south-africa-5-robinson-savours-brilliant-last-hurrah-761386.html. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
- ^ "France coach slams 'clown' Regan". The BBC. 24 February 2008. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7261624.stm. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
- ^ "Regan announces his retirement". The BBC. 25 February 2009. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/bristol/7908894.stm. Retrieved 2009-02-25.
External links
- England profile
- Leeds profile
- Profile at Bristol Rugby
- Profile at scrum.com
- Mark Regan photo by sportingheroes.net
- Regans career in pictures - BBC.co.uk
- Mark Regan Enterprises
- Midas Estates
England squad – 2007 Rugby World Cup Runners-up Forwards Backs Coach AshtonEngland squad – 2003 Rugby World Cup Winners (1st Title) Forwards Backs Coach British and Irish Lions – 1997 South Africa tour Forwards Backs Coach Barbarian team captains - International Fixtures To 1999 Apr 1915: Edgar Mobbs(vs.Wal) • Jan 1948: Haydn Tanner(vs.Aus) • Jan 1952: Jimmy Nelson(vs.SA) • Feb 1954: Rex Willis(vs.NZ) • Feb 1958: Cliff Morgan(vs.Aus) • May 1958: Jim Greenwood(vs.East Africa) • Feb 1961: Ronnie Dawson(vs.SA) • Nov 1962: Ron Jacobs(vs.Can) • Feb 1964: Ronnie Dawson(vs.NZ) • Jan 1967: Noel Murphy(vs.Aus) • Dec 1967: Stewart Wilson(vs.NZ) • May 1969: John O'Shea(vs.Rhodesia) • Jan 1970: Gareth Edwards(vs.SA) • May 1970: John Spencer(vs.Sco XV) • Oct 1970: Frank Laidlaw(vs.Fiji) • Jan 1973: John Dawes(vs.NZ) • Nov 1974: Willie John McBride(vs.NZ) • Jan 1976: Mervyn Davies(vs.Aus) • Jun 1976: Phil Bennett(vs.Can) • Sep 1977: Gerald Davies(vs.Lions) • Dec 1978: Derek Quinnell(vs.NZ) • Jan 1982: Bill Beaumont(vs.Aus)cancelled • Mar 1983: Fergus Slattery(vs.Sco XV) • Dec 1984: Gareth Davies(vs.Aus) • May 1985: Colin Deans(vs.Ita) • Nov 1988: Philip Matthews(vs.Aus) • Nov 1989: David Sole(vs.NZ) • Sep 1990: Nick Farr-Jones(vs.Eng) • Oct 1990: Nick Farr-Jones(vs.Wales) • Nov 1990: [[]](vs.Arg) • Sep 1991: [[]](vs.Sco) • Jun 1992: [[]](vs.Rus) • Nov 1992: [[]](vs.Aus) • Dec 1993: Scott Hastings(vs.NZ) • Jun 1994: [[]](vs.Zim) • Dec 1994: Robert Jones(vs.SA) • 1996: [[]](vs.Ire) • Aug 1996: [[]](vs.Sco) • Aug 1996: Arran Pene(vs.Wal) • Dec 1996: [[]](vs.Aus) •
From 2000 May 2000: Ian Jones(vs.Ire) • May 2000: Zinzan Brooke(vs.Sco) • Aug 2000: [[]](vs.Ger) • Dec 2000: Lawrence Dallaglio(vs.SA) • May 2001: [[]](vs.Wal) • May 2001: Tim Horan(vs.Sco) • May 2001: Gary Teichmann(vs.Eng) • Nov 2001: Rob Howley(vs.Aus) • May 2002: Todd Blackadder(vs.Eng) • May 2002: Pat Lam(vs.Wal) • Jun 2002: Ian Jones(vs.Sco) • May 2003: Taine Randell (vs.Eng) • May 2003: Mick Galwey (vs.Sco) • May 2003: Mark Connors (vs.Wal) • May 2004: Taine Randell (vs.Sco) • May 2004: Matt Burke (vs.Wal) • May 2004: Anton Oliver (vs.Eng) • Jun 2004: Rob Baxter (vs.Por) • Dec 2004: Justin Marshall (vs.NZ) • May 2005: David Humphreys (vs.Sco) • May 2005: Corné Krige (vs.Eng) • May 2006: Raphaël Ibañez (vs.Eng) • May 2006: Will Greenwood (vs.Sco) • Jun 2006: Bobby Skinstad (vs.Geo) • May 2007: Hugh Vyvyan (vs.Tun) • Jun 2007: Hugh Vyvyan (vs.Esp) • Dec 2007: Mark Regan (vs.SA) • May 2008: [[]] (vs.Bel) • May 2008: Morgan Turinui (vs.Ire) • Jun 2008: Mark Regan (vs.Eng) • Dec 2008: John Smit (vs.Aus) • May 2009: Martin Corry (vs.Eng) • Jun 2009: Phil Waugh (vs.Aus) • Dec 2009: Victor Matfield (vs.NZ) • May 2010: Xavier Rush (vs.Eng) • Jun 2010: Xavier Rush (vs.Ire) • Dec 2010: Matt Giteau (vs.SA) • May 2011: Sergio Parisse (vs. Eng) • Jun 2011: Sergio Parisse (vs. Wal)
Categories:- 1972 births
- Living people
- English rugby union players
- Rugby union hookers
- Members of the Order of the British Empire
- Bristol Rugby players
- Leeds Carnegie players
- Barbarian F.C. players
- Bath Rugby players
- People from Bristol
- England international rugby union players
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