Gary Mercer

Gary Ivan Mercer (born 22 June 1966) is a New Zealand rugby league and rugby union coach and former professional rugby league footballer.[1] A New Zealand international representative player, he has spent most of his career in Britain both playing and coaching.[3][4] He is a former defence coach of Glasgow Warriors and a former coach at the SRU working in their Scottish Rugby Academy.[5] As of March 2016, he was the head coach of Biggar RFC.

Gary Mercer
Personal information
Full nameGary Ivan Mercer
Born (1966-06-22) 22 June 1966
Tauranga, New Zealand
Playing information
Height180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
PositionFullback, Wing, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Pikiao (BOPRL)
1987–89 Bradford Northern 40 17 1 0 70
1989–92 Warrington 82 16 3 0 70
1992–97 Leeds Rhinos 153+5 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 381 94 4 0 384
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 Blue Sox 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: [1][2]

Playing career

In his long career he has represented the New Zealand national rugby league team within rugby league and New Zealand Māori sides and has played for the Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Northern, Warrington Wolves, Castleford Tigers and Halifax.[6]

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.[7]

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 the Halifax Blue Sox, and coach at the Castleford Tigers, his first game in charge was on 25 April 2004, and his last game in charge was on 18 September 2004.[8][9][2][10]

Rugby Union

Glasgow Warriors

Mercer switched to rugby union and became the defence coach for the Glasgow Warriors from June 2005[5] to June 2012[11] leaving the Warriors at the same time as Sean Lineen. While he was there praise was heaped on his defensive coaching.[12]

Scotland

He became the Scotland Under-20 assistant coach and worked with the Under-21 side.[13] He then worked for the Scottish Rugby Academy.[14]

Yorkshire Carnegie

He left the Scottish academy in August 2014[15] to have a brief spell running Yorkshire Carnegie.[16]

Glasgow Hawks

Mercer was the head coach of Glasgow Hawks.[17]

Biggar

Mercer moved on to Biggar.[18]

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 1 sister and played alongside his older brother Danny for Central Rugby League in the Bay of Plenty.

References
  1. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  2. "Coach Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  3. "Castleford RLFC A to Z Player List (All Time)". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk ℅ web.archive.org. 31 December 2014. Archived from the original on 16 February 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  4. "Profile at leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk". leedsrugby.dnsupdate.co.uk. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 17 November 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  5. "Profile at uk.linkedin.com". uk.linkedin.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  6. "Mercer willing to play on". news.bbc.co.uk. 3 April 2001. Retrieved 1 January 2002.
  7. "1989-1990 Challenge Cup Final". wigan.rlfans.com. 31 December 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2017.
  8. "Hanley in surprise return with Castleford". The Guardian. 20 May 2004. Retrieved 1 January 2005.
  9. "Mercer coaxed out of retirement". news.bbc.co.uk. 18 April 2002. Retrieved 1 January 2003.
  10. "Coach Statistics at thecastlefordtigers.co.uk". thecastlefordtigers.co.uk ℅ web.archive.org. 31 December 2017. Archived from the original on 3 July 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  11. "The Shock of the Swap". scottishrugbyblog.co.uk. scottishrugbyblog.co.uk. 1 March 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
  12. "Exclusive: Gary Mercer". scottishrugby.org. scottishrugby.org. 7 November 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2008.
  13. "Glasgow Warriors - Gary Mercer". glasgowwarriors.com. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  14. "Mercer to depart Scottish Rugby". scottishrugby.org. 22 August 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  15. "Yorkshire Carnegie appoint Gary Mercer as head coach". Yorkshire Post. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  16. "Yorkshire Carnegie: Gary Mercer leaves Championship club". BBC. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
  17. "Gary Mercer - 1st XV - Glasgow Hawks RFC". glasgowhawks.com. 24 September 2015. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2016.
  18. "Mercer Moves On". glasgowhawks.com. 18 April 2002. Retrieved 1 January 2003.
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