Mac McCallion
Encyclopedia
Mac McCallion is a rugby union
coach who formerly led the Fiji national team
. He was appointed Fiji’s national coaching director in March 2002. He was named New Zealand coach of the year in 1996 and 1997 for his work with the NPC Division One
outfit Counties
. He enhanced his reputation further as Graham Henry's
assistant at the Auckland Blues during a four-year spell that saw them reach three consecutive Super 12
finals, lifting the trophy on two occasions in 1997 and 1998.
He took the Fiji rugby team to the 2003 Rugby World Cup
, but quit later that year, citing frustration at Fiji being overlooked for tournamnents by the stronger rugby nations.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
coach who formerly led the Fiji national team
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...
. He was appointed Fiji’s national coaching director in March 2002. He was named New Zealand coach of the year in 1996 and 1997 for his work with the NPC Division One
Air New Zealand Cup
The ITM Cup is New Zealand's annual professional domestic Rugby union competition, taking place from late July through October . It was founded in 2006 with 14 teams, after the National Provincial Championship was split into two separate competitions. The other 12 provincial teams from the NPC...
outfit Counties
Counties Manukau Rugby Union
The Counties Manukau Rugby Football Union is the governing body of rugby union in the Franklin district of New Zealand. The Steelers colours are red, white, and black horizontal bands. The 'Steelers' moniker is a reference to the nearby Glenbrook steel factory...
. He enhanced his reputation further as Graham Henry's
Graham Henry
Graham Henry is a New Zealand Rugby Union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. He played rugby union for Canterbury and cricket for Otago in the Plunket Shield. Henry was heavily criticized following the All Blacks quarterfinal exit at the 2007 Rugby World...
assistant at the Auckland Blues during a four-year spell that saw them reach three consecutive Super 12
Super 14
Super Rugby is the largest and pre-eminent professional Rugby union competition in the Southern Hemisphere...
finals, lifting the trophy on two occasions in 1997 and 1998.
He took the Fiji rugby team to the 2003 Rugby World Cup
2003 Rugby World Cup
The 2003 Rugby World Cup was the fifth Rugby World Cup and was won by England. Originally planned to be co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, all games were shifted to Australia following a contractual dispute over ground signage rights between the New Zealand Rugby Football Union and Rugby World...
, but quit later that year, citing frustration at Fiji being overlooked for tournamnents by the stronger rugby nations.