Mark Cooksley

Mark "Cowboy" Cooksley

Date of birth	(1971-04-11) 11 April 1971
Place of birth	Auckland, New Zealand
Height
Weight	125 kg (19 st 10 lb)
School	Manurewa High School
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Lock
New Zealand No.	916
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1990–1993 1994–2001	Counties Manukau Waikato	36 75
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1996, 1998, 2000–2001 1997	Chiefs Hurricanes
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(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