Gord MacKinnon
Encyclopedia
Gordon "Gord" MacKinnon is a former Rugby Canada
flanker.
MacKinnon played for the Pocomo Rugby Club of New Westminster when he won his first cap for Canada
against the United States national rugby union team
in 1985.
During that same year he was a member of the British Columbia
side that upset Scotland
. A knee injury and subsequent surgery forced him out of the 1987 World Cup but he was back as a Canadian flanker against the Eagles in 1988 and went on to confirm his reputation as an outstanding athlete, fast and very strong.
MacKinnon played in both 1990 World Cup Americas Zone wins over Argentina. Three appearances at Hong Kong Sevens
and a member of the Canadian team at the 100th Gala Sevens in 1991. He went on to establish himself as one of the world's best flankers, scoring against Romania
and setting up tries against Fiji
and France
in the 1991 Rugby World Cup
as Canada reached the quarter-finals. MacKinnon represented Ex-Britannia Lions amateur Vancouver Rugby Union
side.
Rugby World and Post (as it was know at the time) chose MacKinnon, along with other Canadians "Stormmin" Norm Hadley
(lock) and Dan Jackhart (prop), as a member of the World XV. Selected for the World XV squad for the New Zealand All Blacks
' 1992 Centenary he played in two of the three Tests. MacKinnon made his fourth appearance at the 1992 Hong Kong Sevens
, where he scored six tries and later played on the winning side for the June 1992 Ca-Am in Denver. On that occasion he and wing Scott MacKinnon became the first two brothers to appear on the same team for Canada
.
Gord played against England
at Wembley Stadium
and was the only player to start in all 18 games at the 1993 Canberra, Fiji, Hong Kong
and Rugby World Cup Sevens
events, leading the way with eight tries in all. That year his 15-a-side contribution was limited by a slow-to-heal foot fracture and his only Test appearance was against England
in Nepean
, when he scored a memorable try. He resumed for the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens
and played against the United States
, earning his 17th cap. Gord received his 28th and final cap on 3 June 1995 against South Africa
in Port Elizabeth.
Over his international career he has scored four tries (Japan
1991, Romania
1991, England
1993 and Argentina
1995).
In 2011 Gord qualified to participate in the 2011 Crossfit games in California. he won the Masters 50-54 division.
Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada, is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in Canada. Rugby Canada was incorporated in 1974, and stems from the Canadian Rugby Football Union, a body established in 1884 that now governs amateur Canadian football as Football Canada; and the now-defunct Rugby Union of...
flanker.
MacKinnon played for the Pocomo Rugby Club of New Westminster when he won his first cap for Canada
Rugby Canada
Rugby Canada, is the national governing body for the sport of rugby union in Canada. Rugby Canada was incorporated in 1974, and stems from the Canadian Rugby Football Union, a body established in 1884 that now governs amateur Canadian football as Football Canada; and the now-defunct Rugby Union of...
against the United States national rugby union team
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
in 1985.
During that same year he was a member of the British Columbia
British Columbia Rugby Union
The British Columbia Rugby Union is the provincial administrative body for rugby union in British Columbia. The BCRU consists of nine sub-unions and 65 clubs. It was originally organized in New Westminster in 1889 where Alfred St...
side that upset Scotland
Scotland national rugby union team
The Scotland national rugby union team represent Scotland in international rugby union. Rugby union in Scotland is administered by the Scottish Rugby Union. The Scotland rugby union team is currently ranked eighth in the IRB World Rankings as of 19 September 2011...
. A knee injury and subsequent surgery forced him out of the 1987 World Cup but he was back as a Canadian flanker against the Eagles in 1988 and went on to confirm his reputation as an outstanding athlete, fast and very strong.
MacKinnon played in both 1990 World Cup Americas Zone wins over Argentina. Three appearances at Hong Kong Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
and a member of the Canadian team at the 100th Gala Sevens in 1991. He went on to establish himself as one of the world's best flankers, scoring against Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
and setting up tries against Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
and France
France national rugby union team
The France national rugby union team represents France in rugby union. They compete annually against England, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales in the Six Nations Championship. They have won the championship outright sixteen times, shared it a further eight times, and have completed nine grand slams...
in the 1991 Rugby World Cup
Rugby World Cup
The Rugby World Cup is an international rugby union competition organised by the International Rugby Board and held every four years since 1987....
as Canada reached the quarter-finals. MacKinnon represented Ex-Britannia Lions amateur Vancouver Rugby Union
Vancouver Rugby Union
The Vancouver Rugby Union is the administrative body for rugby union in Vancouver. The VRU currently consists of 20 rugby clubs.-List of Clubs in VRU:* Bayside Sharks* Britannia Lions RFC* Burnaby Lake Rugby Club* Capilano RFC* Gibsons RAC...
side.
Rugby World and Post (as it was know at the time) chose MacKinnon, along with other Canadians "Stormmin" Norm Hadley
Norm Hadley
Norman Hadley is a former professional rugby union player."Stormin' Norman" was a massive 6 foot 7", 21-stone lock. He played professionally first for London Wasps and then Bedford Blues in the 1990s. In Canada he played for James Bay and UBCOB Ravens . He earned an M.B.A...
(lock) and Dan Jackhart (prop), as a member of the World XV. Selected for the World XV squad for the New Zealand All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
' 1992 Centenary he played in two of the three Tests. MacKinnon made his fourth appearance at the 1992 Hong Kong Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
, where he scored six tries and later played on the winning side for the June 1992 Ca-Am in Denver. On that occasion he and wing Scott MacKinnon became the first two brothers to appear on the same team for Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
.
Gord played against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
at Wembley Stadium
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
and was the only player to start in all 18 games at the 1993 Canberra, Fiji, Hong Kong
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
and Rugby World Cup Sevens
Rugby World Cup Sevens
The Rugby World Cup Sevens is the premier international Rugby sevens competition. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Rugby Board , and is contested by the men's national sevens teams every four years. The inaugural tournament was held in 1993 in Scotland, the...
events, leading the way with eight tries in all. That year his 15-a-side contribution was limited by a slow-to-heal foot fracture and his only Test appearance was against England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
in Nepean
Nepean
-People:* Augustus Nepean , Middlesex county cricketer* Charles Nepean , Middlesex county cricketer and Oxford University footballer* Evan Nepean , British politician and colonial administrator...
, when he scored a memorable try. He resumed for the 1994 Hong Kong Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
and played against the United States
United States national rugby union team
USA Rugby's men's national rugby union team, nicknamed the Eagles, represents the United States in the sport of rugby union. The Eagles are currently ranked 17th by the IRB World Rankings. Their highest ranking was from November 2, 2006 – September 10, 2007 at the 14th position...
, earning his 17th cap. Gord received his 28th and final cap on 3 June 1995 against South Africa
South Africa national rugby union team
The South African national rugby union team are 2009 British and Irish Lions Series winners. They are currently ranked as the fourth best team in the IRB World Rankings and were named 2008 World Team of the Year at the prestigious Laureus World Sports Awards.Although South Africa was instrumental...
in Port Elizabeth.
Over his international career he has scored four tries (Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
1991, Romania
Romania national rugby union team
The Romania national rugby union team , nicknamed The Oaks , is the representative side of Romania in rugby union. Long considered one of the stronger European teams outside the Six Nations, they have participated in all six Rugby World Cups, and currently compete in the first division of the...
1991, England
England national rugby union team
The England national rugby union team represents England in rugby union. They compete in the annual Six Nations Championship with France, Ireland, Scotland, Italy, and Wales. They have won this championship on 26 occasions, 12 times winning the Grand Slam, making them the most successful team in...
1993 and Argentina
Argentina national rugby union team
The Argentina national rugby team, nicknamed Los Pumas, represents Argentina in international rugby union matches. The team, which plays in sky blue and white jerseys, is organised by the Argentine Rugby Union .Argentina played its first international rugby match in 1910 against a touring British...
1995).
In 2011 Gord qualified to participate in the 2011 Crossfit games in California. he won the Masters 50-54 division.