Name Mark Cooksley Education Manurewa High School Weight 125 kg | Height 2.05 m Role Rugby player | |
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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 is the tallest All Black ever at 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.