Marc Ellis (rugby)

Marc Ellis

Full name	Marc Christopher Gwynne Ellis
Date of birth	8 October 1971 (1971-10-08) (age 40)
Place of birth	Wellington, New Zealand
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	82 kg (12 st 13 lb)
School	Wellington College
University	University of Otago
Rugby league career
Position	Utility Back
Professional clubs
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1996–1997	Auckland Warriors
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Utility Back
New Zealand No.	926
Provincial/State sides
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1991–1995 1998–2000	Otago North Harbour
Super Rugby
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1999 2000	Blues Highlanders
National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Caps	(points)
1992–1993, 1995	New Zealand	8	(55)

Marc Christopher Gwynne Ellis (born 8 October 1971) is a New Zealand businessman and television presenter, and former rugby league and rugby union player. A graduate of the University of Otago, his primary business interests are in Charlie's, a juice company. During the 1995 Rugby World Cup he scored six tries in the game against Japan, which is the record for the most tries by an individual in a Rugby World Cup match.^[1]

NPC

Ellis started out for Otago in the NPC in 1991 when he was playing for the club side University, and he was selected for the NZ Colts. He made a name for himself while playing for Otago, which earned him All Black selection in 1992. Ellis stayed with Otago until 1995 when he switched code to rugby league. In 1998 after two seasons of league, Ellis played for North Harbour in the NPC, where he remained for another two seasons. Ellis played his last season of NPC in 2000 for North Harbour.

All Blacks

Ellis first played for the All Blacks in 1992, against a South Australian Invitation XV, then against Australian club and invitation sides. He scored two tries in his first test, in 1993, at first five-eighth against Scotland, won 51–15 by the All Blacks. A week later he was selected for the test against England where he also played first five. Ellis played his last match of 1993 against the Barbarians. For the 1994 season, Ellis was not selected for the All Blacks and did not attend the NZ trial due to injury, but he did play for the New Zealand XV and New Zealand Universities sides. In 1995 Ellis was re-called to the All Blacks for the World Cup, playing five games on the wing. He scored seven tries in the tournament, six of them in the 145–17 win over Japan.

Rugby league

At the end of the 1995 season Ellis switched to league to play for the Auckland Warriors. Ellis was Warrior number 29 when he played his first match in 1996. He played for the Warriors from 1996–1998, playing 36 matches and scoring 103 points through 11 tries, 29 goals and 1 field goal. Mark Ellis also represented the New Zealand national Rugby League team the 'Kiwis' in 5 matches. But in league, as he had in union, Ellis suffered from an uncertainty as to which position was his best.^{[citation needed]}

Super 12

Ellis missed out on the first few seasons of the Super 12 due to his rugby league career, but when he returned to rugby union in 1998 it was only a short time before he was into the Super 12. After playing a solid season for North Harbour in the NPC Ellis was picked for the Blues, where he played one season. In 1999, after strong seasons with North Harbour and the Blues, Ellis was named in one of the early training squads for the 1999 Rugby World Cup, but he was never selected in the final team and played for NZ A instead. In 2000 Ellis played his final Super 12 season for the Highlanders before retiring from rugby.

Later life

In 2006 he released his autobiography, Crossing the Line, which details all aspects of his life.^[2] Ellis has since co-authored Good Fullas: A Guide to Kiwi Blokes, released in 2010 with friend and New Zealand Consul General to Italy, Charlie Haddrell.^[3]

Controversy

In 2005 Ellis purchased ecstasy tablets from a drug dealer who was under surveillance by the New Zealand Police. Ellis was among many high-profile figures caught in the operation, code-named Aqua. His court appearance put an end to a poorly-kept secret, as despite the fact he had originally obtained name suppression, his identity was widely known by the New Zealand public. Ellis was fined $300.^[4]

On 15 November 2007, as part of an elaborate marketing ploy for his latest business venture, Ellis detonated 600 kg of explosives on top of Rangitoto Island, a nature reserve in Auckland's Waitemata Harbour. This created the illusion that the volcanic island was erupting. The New Zealand Department of Conservation described the stunt as "demoralising and very disappointing".^[5] There is a total fire ban on the island because of ecological significance.

References

1. ^ "Player Records (RWC Overall)". rugbyworldcup.com. http://www.rugbyworldcup.com/statistics/season=0/type=Points/team=0/player=0/records/index.html. Retrieved 12 December 2007. 
2. ^ Linda Herrick (7 October 2006). "Marc Ellis writes next chapter". NZ Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/category/story.cfm?c_id=18&objectid=10404805. 
3. ^ Dudding, Adam (15 August 2010). "Marc's bloke spotting". The Sunday Star-Times. http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/4022866/Marcs-bloke-spotting. Retrieved 12 September 2011. 
4. ^ Louisa Cleave (27 August 2005). "Marc Ellis resigns from Charlie's, holds on to TV job". NZ Herald. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10342698. 
5. ^ "Ellis publicity stunt distresses residents". tvnz.co.nz. 15 November 2007. http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411749/1448304. 

External links

• Marc Ellis at rugbymuseum.co.nz
• The Listener 2004 Power List: Ellis is listed as no. 49. Retrieved 27 August 2005.
• Sports Comedy Shows and New Lad Culture in NZ. Retrieved 30 November 2006 from www.sportsfreak.co.nz.
• Marc Ellis joins the Hare Krishnas New Zealand Herald- 27 May 2007
• [1]
• Marc Ellis at AllBlacks.com
• http://www.stuff.co.nz/sunday-star-times/features/4022866/Marcs-bloke-spotting Sunday Star Times 15 August 2010
• http://www.goodfullas.co.nz/
• http://www.nzwomansweekly.co.nz/books/book-reviews/marc-ellis-good-fullas-marc-ellis-and-charlie-hadd/story/4103232/

Persondata
Name	Ellis, Mark
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1971-10-08
Place of birth	Wellington, New Zealand
Date of death
Place of death