Mark McKenzie (rugby union)

Mark McKenzie
Birth name Mark McKenzie
Date of birth (1971-12-02) 2 December 1971
Place of birth Scotland
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 78 kg (12 st 4 lb)
School Dunblane High School
University University of the Highlands and Islands
Notable relative(s) Kevin McKenzie, brother
Rugby union career
Position(s) Fly-half
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
- Stirling County
Falkirk RFC		 ()
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1996-98
1998-2000
2000
2001		 Caledonia Reds
CS Bourgoin-Jallieu
Glasgow Warriors
Nice

8

(97)
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
- Glasgow District
North and Midlands		 ()
National team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
- Scotland U18
Scotland U19
Scotland A		 ()
Teams coached
Years Team
2012 Falkirk RFC

Mark McKenzie (born 2 December 1971) is a former Scotland 'A' international Scottish rugby union player. He played for Caledonia Reds and Glasgow Warriors in Scotland, and for CS Bourgoin-Jallieu and Nice in France.

McKenzie's career spanned the amateur and professional era. In 1989, he was playing for Glasgow District Under 18s.[1] He won the Division One league title in 94/95 with Stirling County.[2]

On Scotland's rugby professionalism in 1996, McKenzie then played for Caledonia Reds and won the Scottish Inter-District Championship with them in the 1996-97 season; their first ever title.[2] He played in the Heineken Cup with Caledonia Reds.

When Caledonia Reds merged with Glasgow Rugby in 1998, to form Glasgow Caledonians, now Glasgow Warriors, McKenzie found himself without a professional club. He was to move to France where he joined CS Bourgoin-Jallieu. He was there from 1998 to 2000.[3]

He signed for Glasgow Warriors for the start of the 2000 - 01 season.[4] He made 12 appearances, scoring 129 points from three tries, 24 conversions, 20 penalties and two drop-goals.[3] Competitively, he played 8 matches scoring 97 points. McKenzie made his debut for Glasgow in a friendly playing the Pacific Coast Grizzlies.[5]

In late 2000 he asked to leave Glasgow so that he could return to France to be with his girlfriend.[3] He was unable to settle back in Scotland without her.[6] The Glasgow coach Richie Dixon stated: "Reluctantly, we agreed to let Mark go with effect from the New Year. Obviously we are very sorry to see such a talented player departing but we wish him well in the future." The Chief Executive David Jordan said: "There has been no acrimony over the parting of ways. Mark leaves us on good terms and we genuinely hope his career blossoms again. He is a very potent midfielder and I can see no reason why he should not be continuing to push for Scotland honours in the near future." [3]

Starting 2001, McKenzie secured a two and a half year deal with French side Nice.[3]

McKenzie also played in New Zealand.[7]

McKenzie came through the ages for Scotland. He played at Scotland U18,[7] Scotland U19[7] and then Scotland 'A'.[6][8][9]

He became a SRU Regional Academy coach[10][11]

He played for, then coached Falkirk RFC.[7][12] He won BT National League Division 4 Player of the Year in 2005[13] and helped take the Falkirk club back up through the divisions, winning five successive championships.[14] He mentored Finn Russell, Adam Ashe and Grant Gilchrist.[14]

In 2012, he was appointed St Aloysius College's new director of rugby.[2][15][16] He is also a Sports Performance consultant with ESP.[7]

References

  1. ↑ "The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search".
  2. 1 2 3 "New role for McKenzie (From Herald Scotland)". heraldscotland.com. Retrieved 2016-01-06.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 "Rugby: MARK LEAVES CALEY LOSERS IN LOVE; But McKenzie gets a Nice new deal".
  4. ↑ "McLaren moves to Glasgow". ESPN scrum.
  5. ↑ "McKenzie and Harrison to make Reds' debuts". ESPN scrum.
  6. 1 2 Peter Donald (29 December 2000). "Unsettled McKenzie released from Caledonians contract". Telegraph.co.uk.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mark McKenzie".
  8. ↑ John Nisbet at McDiarmid Park (22 September 2011). "Utterson guides Scotland to safety". The Independent.
  9. ↑ "BBC SPORT - RUGBY UNION - Scotland pushed all the way".
  10. ↑ "12 Young Rugby Stars Named In Scotland'S Youth Games Commonwealth Team".
  11. ↑ "Eddie Pollock Returns To Scottish Rugby".
  12. ↑ "Falkirk rugby coach steps to the sidelines".
  13. ↑ "Richard takes Premiership Player of the Year Award".
  14. 1 2 "ESP CrossFit Seminar - Facebook".
  15. ↑ "Watson's on familiar ground for schools rugby final".
  16. ↑ "Defeated Dundee High drop down to shield competition".
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