Mark Cooksley

Mark "Cowboy" Cooksley

Full name	Mark Stephen "Rigga" Bill Cooksley
Date of birth	(1971-04-11) 11 April 1971
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Height	2.05 m (6 ft 9 in)
Weight	125 kg (19 st 10 lb)
School	Manurewa High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Lock Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1990–1993 1994–2001 Counties Manukau Waikato 36 75 () Super Rugby Years Team Apps (Points) 1996, 1998, 2000–2001 1997 Chiefs Hurricanes () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1992– 1992–1995, 1997, 2001 NZ Māori New Zealand 11 (0)

Mark Stephen "Cowboy" 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 metres 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 because of the average but better skill level.

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.

He now resides as a Cowboy in Hamilton

As a decedent of Ngāpuhi saw him regularly play for New Zealand Māori from 1992 onwards.

External links

• Mark Cooksley at AllBlacks.com