| Mark McKenzie | |
| Birth Name: | Mark McKenzie |
| Birth Date: | 2 December 1971 |
| Birth Place: | Scotland |
| Height: | 171cm (67inches) |
| Weight: | 78kg (172lb) |
| Ru Amateuryears: | - |
| Ru Amateurclubs: | Stirling County Falkirk RFC |
| Ru Clubyears: | 1996-98 1998-2000 2000 2001 |
| Ru Clubcaps: | 8 |
| Ru Clubpoints: | (97) |
| Ru Position: | Fly-half |
| Ru Provinceyears: | - |
| Ru Province: | Glasgow District North and Midlands |
| Ru Nationalyears: | - |
| Ru Nationalteam: | Scotland U18 Scotland U19 Scotland A |
| Ru Coachclubs: | Falkirk RFC |
| Ru Coachyears: | 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.[1] He won the Division One league title in 94/95 with Stirling County.[2]
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.[2] 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.[3]
He signed for Glasgow Warriors for the start of the 2000 - 01 season.[4] He made 3 appearances, scoring 129 points from three tries, 24 conversions, 20 penalties and two drop-goals.[3] Competitively, he played 8 matches scoring 97 points. McKenzie made his debut for Glasgow in a friendly playing the Pacific Coast Grizzlies.[5]
In late 2000 he asked to leave Glasgow so that he could return to France to be with his girlfriend.[3] He was unable to settle back in Scotland without her.[6] 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."[3]
Starting 2001, McKenzie secured a two-and-a-half-year deal with French side Nice.[3]
McKenzie also played in New Zealand.[7]
McKenzie came through the ages for Scotland. He played at Scotland U18,[7] Scotland U19[7] and then Scotland 'A'.[6] [8] [9]
He became a SRU Regional Academy coach[10] [11]
He played for, then coached Falkirk RFC.[7] [12] He won BT National League Division 4 Player of the Year in 2005[13] and helped take the Falkirk club back up through the divisions, winning five successive championships.[14] He mentored Finn Russell, Adam Ashe and Grant Gilchrist.[14]
In 2012, he was appointed St Aloysius College's new director of rugby.[2] [15] [16] He is also a Sports Performance consultant with ESP.[7]