Mark McKenzie (rugby union)

{{Short description|Scottish rugby union player}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}

{{Use British English|date=September 2019}}

{{Infobox rugby biography

| name = Mark McKenzie

| image =

| caption =

| birth_name = Mark McKenzie

| nickname =

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|12|02|df=y}}

| birth_place = Scotland

| death_date =

| death_place =

| height = {{convert|171|cm|ftin|abbr=on}}

| weight = {{convert|78|kg|stlb|abbr=on}}

| amatyears1 =

| amatteam1 = Stirling County

| amatteam2 = Falkirk RFC

| ru_amclubcaps =

| ru_amclubpoints =

| ru_amupdate =

| years1 = 1996-98

| years2 = 1998-2000

| years3 = 2000

| years4 = 2001

| clubs1 = Caledonia Reds

| clubs2 = CS Bourgoin-Jallieu

| clubs3 = Glasgow Warriors

| clubs4 = Nice

| apps1 =

| apps2 =

| apps3 = 8

| points1 =

| points2 =

| points3 = 97

| ru_clubupdate =

| position = Fly-half

| superyears1 =

| super1 =

| superapps1 =

| superpoints1 =

| super14update =

| provinceyears1 =

| province1 = Glasgow District

| province2 = North and Midlands

| provinceapps1 =

| provincepoints1 =

| repyears1 =

| repteam1 = Scotland U18

| repteam2 = Scotland U19

| repteam3 = Scotland A

| repcaps1 =

| reppoints1 =

| ru_ntupdate =

| coachteams1 = Falkirk RFC

| coachyears1 = 2012

| relatives = Kevin McKenzie, brother

| school = Dunblane High School

| university = University of the Highlands and Islands

}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=OTRAAAAAIBAJ&sjid=W1kMAAAAIBAJ&pg=5971%2C1176360|title=The Glasgow Herald - Google News Archive Search|publisher=}} He won the Division One league title in 94/95 with Stirling County.{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/13060862.New_role_for_McKenzie/|title=New role for McKenzie (From Herald Scotland)|publisher=heraldscotland.com|accessdate=2016-01-06}}

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. 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.{{cite web|url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/Rugby%3A+MARK+LEAVES+CALEY+LOSERS+IN+LOVE%3B+But+McKenzie+gets+a+Nice+new...-a068557092|title=Rugby: MARK LEAVES CALEY LOSERS IN LOVE; But McKenzie gets a Nice new deal.|publisher=}}

He signed for Glasgow Warriors for the start of the 2000 - 01 season.{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/31834.html|title=McLaren moves to Glasgow|work=ESPN scrum}} He made 3 appearances, scoring 129 points from three tries, 24 conversions, 20 penalties and two drop-goals. Competitively, he played 8 matches scoring 97 points. McKenzie made his debut for Glasgow in a friendly playing the Pacific Coast Grizzlies.{{cite web|url=http://en.espn.co.uk/scrum/rugby/story/32089.html|title=McKenzie and Harrison to make Reds' debuts|work=ESPN scrum}}

In late 2000 he asked to leave Glasgow so that he could return to France to be with his girlfriend. He was unable to settle back in Scotland without her.{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/rugbyunion/club/2995502/Unsettled-McKenzie-released-from-Caledonians-contract.html|title=Unsettled McKenzie released from Caledonians contract|author=Peter Donald|date=29 December 2000|work=Telegraph.co.uk}} 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."

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

McKenzie also played in New Zealand.{{cite web|url=http://www.elitesportingperformance.com/mark-mckenzie/|title=Mark McKenzie|publisher=}}

McKenzie came through the ages for Scotland. He played at Scotland U18, Scotland U19 and then Scotland 'A'.{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/rugby/rugby-union/utterson-guides-scotland-to-safety-624159.html|title=Utterson guides Scotland to safety|author=John Nisbet at McDiarmid Park|date=22 September 2011|work=The Independent}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/1024018.stm|title=BBC SPORT - RUGBY UNION - Scotland pushed all the way|publisher=}}

He became a SRU Regional Academy coach{{cite web|url=http://www.glasgowwarriors.org/news/11/08/09/12-young-rugby-stars-named-scotlands-youth-games-commonwealth-team|title=12 Young Rugby Stars Named In Scotland'S Youth Games Commonwealth Team|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.scottishrugby.org/news/11/09/30/eddie-pollock-returns-scottish-rugby-3|title=Eddie Pollock Returns To Scottish Rugby|publisher=}}

He played for, then coached Falkirk RFC.{{cite web|url=http://www.falkirkherald.co.uk/sport/local-sport/rugby/falkirk-rugby-coach-steps-to-the-sidelines-1-2330633|title=Falkirk rugby coach steps to the sidelines|publisher=}} He won BT National League Division 4 Player of the Year in 2005{{cite web|url=http://old.glasgowhawks.com/news/302|title=Richard takes Premiership Player of the Year Award|publisher=}} and helped take the Falkirk club back up through the divisions, winning five successive championships.{{cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/events/404056263111617/permalink/409542505896326/|title=ESP CrossFit Seminar - Facebook|publisher=}} He mentored Finn Russell, Adam Ashe and Grant Gilchrist.

In 2012, he was appointed St Aloysius College's new director of rugby.{{cite web|url=http://www.scotsman.com/sport/rugby-union/watson-s-on-familiar-ground-for-schools-rugby-final-1-3209984|title=Watson’s on familiar ground for schools rugby final|publisher=}}{{cite web|url=http://www.thecourier.co.uk/sport/rugby/defeated-dundee-high-drop-down-to-shield-competition-1.578275|title=Defeated Dundee High drop down to shield competition|publisher=}}{{dead link|date=October 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He is also a Sports Performance consultant with ESP.