Mac McCallion

{{Infobox rugby biography

| image =

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| fullname = Warrick Lee McCallionDifferent sources give different versions of his first names as Warrick Lee, Warwick Lee, or Leigh Warwick.

| birth_date = {{birth date|1950|7|26|df=yes}}

| birth_place =

| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|3|14|1950|7|26|df=yes}}

| death_place = Manurewa, New Zealand

| height =

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| ru_position = Loose forward

| amatyears1 =

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| points1 =

| province1 = Counties

| provinceyears1 = 1976–80

| provinceapps1 = 23

| provincepoints1 = 28

| repteam1 = New Zealand Māori

| repyears1 = 1978–79

| repcaps1 = 8

| reppoints1 = 4

| coachyears1 = 1995–99

| coachyears2 = 1996–99

| coachyears3 = 2002–03

| coachteams1 = {{rut|Counties Manukau}}

| coachteams2 = {{rut|Blues}} (assistant)

| coachteams3 = {{nrut|Fiji}}

}}

Warrick Lee "Mac" McCallion (26 July 1950 – 14 March 2018) was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/team_pages/fiji/3232903.stm McCallion rues Scotland defeat] BBC.co.uk 1 November 2003

McCallion served in the Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment of the New Zealand Army during the Vietnam War.{{cite web|title=Tpr Warwick Lee McCallion|url=http://vietnamwar.govt.nz/veteran/tpr-wl-mccallion|website=Memories of New Zealand and the Vietnam War|accessdate=14 March 2018}} Aged 17, and having lied about his age to enlist, he was a member of the secret Faceless 26 Ghost Unit of the New Zealand Special Air Service.{{cite news|last1=Shand|first1=Matt|title=Forgotten SAS Vietnam War hero denied medal|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/99283095/Forgotten-SAS-Vietnam-War-hero-denied-medal|accessdate=14 March 2018|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=3 December 2017|language=en}}

After the war, he played for Counties from 1976 to 1980, and made eight appearances for New Zealand Māori in the late 1970s.{{cite web |url=https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/l-w-mccallion |title=Leigh Warwick McCallion |website=New Zealand Rugby History |accessdate=15 March 2018}}

McCallion was named New Zealand coach of the year for his work with the NPC Division One team Counties in both 1996 and 1997. He enhanced his reputation further as Graham Henry's assistant at the Auckland Blues during a four-year spell that saw them reach three consecutive Super 12 finals, lifting the trophy on two occasions in 1997 and 1998.

McCallion was appointed Fiji's national coaching director in March 2002. He took the Fiji national team to the 2003 Rugby World Cup, but quit later that year, citing frustration at Fiji being overlooked for tournaments by the stronger rugby nations.[http://www.scrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/50441.html McCallion quits Fiji in disgust] Scrum.com, 2 December 2003

McCallion died in Manurewa on 14 March 2018 after a battle with cancer.{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12012400 |title=Rugby: former Counties Manukau, Blues coach Mac McCallion passes away | work=New Zealand Herald | date=14 March 2018 |accessdate=14 March 2018}} He was survived by his wife Suzie, two children Dion and Zeb, one step-child Bowen and daughter in law Robyn. He has 5 grandchildren.{{cite news |url=http://notices.nzherald.co.nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/obituary.aspx?n=warrick-lee-mccallion&pid=188449188 |title=Warrick Lee McCallion death notice | work=New Zealand Herald | date=15 March 2018 |accessdate=15 March 2018}}