William Mackrell

Bill Mackrell
Personal information
Full name William Henry Clifton Mackrell
Born (1881-07-20)20 July 1881
Milton, New South Wales, Australia
Died 15 July 1917(1917-07-15) (aged 35)
Auckland, Auckland Region, New Zealand
Playing information
Height 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 79 kg (12 st 6 lb)
Rugby union
Position Hooker, Back row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1901–05 Auckland
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1906 New Zealand 1 1 0 0 3
Rugby league
Position Hooker, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1910 Newton
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
1907–08 New Zealand 2
1908–?? Auckland
Source: RLP

William "Bill" Henry Clifton Mackrell[1] was a New Zealand rugby footballer who represented his country in both rugby union and rugby league. He was part of the 1905 The Original All Blacks tour and the professional 1907-1908 New Zealand rugby tour of Great Britain.

Early years

Mackrell was a printer by trade.[2]

Rugby football

Mackrell began playing rugby union for the City Newton club. He represented Auckland between 1901 and 1905 and earned North Island selection in 1905. His last first class rugby union match in New Zealand was for Auckland against the All Blacks in 1905 as they prepared for a short tour of Australia.

Mackrell was then selected to be part of The Original All Blacks 1905 tour of Great Britain and France but injury hampered his tour and he played in only one test match, against France in Paris on New Years Day, 1906. On his return he was replaced in the Auckland side by Charlie Dunning.

Rugby league

Mackrell, along with Newton team mates Harold Rowe and William Trevarthan, was selected for the professional All Blacks in their 1907-1908 tour of Great Britain and Australia. As a result, he received a life ban from the New Zealand Rugby Union. He played in two test matches on the tour, including the first ever rugby league test match against Wales on New Years Day, 1908. He played in the first ever trans-Tasman test which was the debut match of the Australia national rugby league team.

When he returned to New Zealand, Mackrell was involved in establishing the Newton rugby league club.[2] He also played in the first ever provincial game of rugby league in New Zealand, helping Auckland defeat Wellington 16-14 on 24 August 1908.

In 1911 Mackrell again played for New Zealand in an exhibition match against Auckland.[3] Mackrell received a kick to the head in a 1912 match which forced his retirement and may have also led to his early death.

Mackrell died in Auckland on 15 July 1917 as a result of a paralytic seizure, five days before his 36th birthday.

References

  1. ↑ MACKRELL, William Henry Clifton 1907 - 08 - Kiwi #14 nzleague.co.nz
  2. 1 2 John Haynes From All Blacks to All Golds: Rugby League's Pioneers, Christchurch, Ryan and Haynes, 1996. ISBN 0-473-03864-1
  3. ↑ W.J.Davidson Rugby League Annual - 1949, New Zealand Rugby League, 1949
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