Mark Taylor (rugby union, born 1951)

Norman Mark Taylor (born 11 January 1951) is a former New Zealand rugby union player. A second five-eighth and wing, Taylor represented Bay of Plenty and Hawke's Bay at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, between 1976 and 1982. His career in New Zealand was relatively short, playing 72 first-class domestic matches and 27 matches for New Zealand, including nine internationals.[1]

Mark Taylor
Birth nameNorman Mark Taylor
Date of birth (1951-01-11) 11 January 1951 (age 73)
Place of birthAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight79 kg (174 lb)
SchoolDargaville High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Second five-eighth, wing
Amateur team(s)
Years Team Apps (Points)
1979–1982 Wasps RFC ()
Provincial / State sides
Years Team Apps (Points)
1973–1978
1982
Bay of Plenty
Hawke's Bay
64
8
()
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
1976–1982 New Zealand 9 (4)

Taylor also played in England for Wasps in the late 1970s and early 1980s, captaining the club in the 1980–81,[2] 1981-82[3] and 1982–83 seasons, although he was ruled out of the final season by injury.[4] In his first season as captain the Rothmans Rugby Yearbook stated that his "outspoken captaincy paid dividends for Wasps, who had their best season for twenty years". Taylor also played for the Middlesex county team and helped them reach the semi-final of the 1981-82 County Championship.[5]

References edit

  1. ^ Knight, Lindsay. "Mark Taylor". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 19 October 2014.
  2. ^ Jenkins, Vivian, ed. (1981). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1981-82. p. 344. ISBN 090757405X.
  3. ^ Jenkins, Vivian, ed. (1982). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1982-83. p. 344. ISBN 0907574130.
  4. ^ Jones, Steve, ed. (1983). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1983-84. p. 360. ISBN 0356097315.
  5. ^ Jenkins, Vivian, ed. (1982). Rothmans Rugby Yearbook 1982-83. p. 135. ISBN 0907574130.