Mark Birtwistle
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2017}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| image =
| birth_name = Mark Leslie Birtwistle
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1962|10|17}}
| birth_place = Auckland, New Zealand
| relatives = Bill Birtwistle (uncle)
Beaudene Birtwistle (son)
| ru_currentposition =
| ru_currentteam =
| ru_position = Lock
| amatyears1 = 1985–1990
| amatyears2 = 1986–1991
| amatyears3 = 1992
| amatteam1 = Suburbs
| amatteam2 = Pukekohe
| amatteam3 = Hutt Old Boys
| province1 = Auckland B
| province2 = Counties Manukau
| province3 = Wellington
| province4 = Auckland
| province5 = Counties Manukau
| province6 = Auckland
| provinceyears1 = 1985–1990
| provinceyears2 = 1986–1989
| provinceyears3 = 1992
| provinceyears4 = 1993
| provinceyears5 = 1994–1995
| provinceyears6 = 1996
| provinceapps1 = 2
| provinceapps2 = 31
| provinceapps3 = 14
| provinceapps4 = 6
| provinceapps5 = 18
| provinceapps6 = 5
| provincepoints1 = 4
| provincepoints2 = 8
| provincepoints3 = 4
| provincepoints4 = 5
| provincepoints5 = 10
| provincepoints6 = 15
| clubs1 =
| apps1 =
| points1 =
| repyears1 = 1991–1996
| repteam1 = {{nrut|Samoa}}
| repcaps1 = 11
| reppoints1 = 0
}}
Mark Leslie Birtwistle (born 17 October 1962, in Auckland) is a New Zealand-born Samoan former rugby union footballer. He played as lock.
Career
He debuted in the 1991 Rugby World Cup, in the match against Wales at Cardiff, on 6 October 1991.{{Cite news|date=2003-09-24|title=1991: W Samoa 16-13 Wales|language=en-GB|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/history/2998154.stm|access-date=2022-02-18}}{{Cite web|last=Thomas|first=Simon|date=2021-10-03|title=Wales humiliation shook the rugby world and put three in hospital|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-news/wales-humiliation-shook-rugby-world-21740496|access-date=2022-02-18|website=WalesOnline|language=en}} His last international match was against Ireland, at Lansdowne Road on 12 November 1996.
Personal life
He is the nephew of the former rugby union footballer Bill Birtwistle,{{cite web |url=http://stats.allblacks.com/asp/profile.asp?ABID=58 |title=Bill Birtwistle |last=Luxford |first=Bob |publisher=New Zealand Rugby Union |access-date=19 November 2021}} who was a former three-quarter who played for Waikato and for the All Blacks in the 1967 New Zealand rugby union tour of Britain, France and Canada. Currently, he is coach of the Suburbs Rugby Club from Auckland.{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/ex-pat-fans-and-players-test-their-loyalties/6RF2ETKRMBG2KHBINHFFRH5QDU/ |title=Ex-pat fans and players test their loyalties |author=Richard Boock |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=15 June 2001 |accessdate=27 December 2020}} He is father of Beaudene Birtwistle, who plays as loose forward for Samoa Under-20{{cite web |url=http://www.talamua.com/sports-sons-follow-fathers-into-national-rugby-colours/ |title=Sports' sons follow Fathers into national rugby colours |publisher=Talamua |date=13 May 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150205211826/http://www.talamua.com/sports-sons-follow-fathers-into-national-rugby-colours/ |archive-date=5 February 2015}}{{cite web |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/discharge-without-conviction-over-king-hit/64Q44S7X33Q5M3UCM6NC45H2KQ/ |title=Discharge without conviction over 'king hit' |publisher=New Zealand Herald |date=25 August 2015 |accessdate=27 December 2020}} and for Counties Manukau.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{ESPNscrum|11077}}
- [http://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/mark-leslie-birtwistle Mark L. Birtwistle at New Zealand Rugby History]
{{Samoa Squad 1991 World Cup}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Birtwistle, Mark}}
Category:Rugby union players from Auckland
Category:Samoan rugby union players
Category:Samoa international rugby union players
Category:1991 Rugby World Cup players
Category:Counties Manukau rugby union players
Category:Wellington rugby union players
Category:Auckland rugby union players
{{Samoa-rugbyunion-bio-stub}}