Mark Bourneville
Encyclopedia
Mark Trevor "Horse" Bourneville (born 30 June 1963 in New Zealand
) is a former rugby league
player. He represented both New Zealand and France
in international rugby league and is the only dual-international the two countries share.
from age 18, Bourneville was selected for Auckland
that same year. He was involved in the 1984 Auckland Rugby League
grand final which saw Mt Albert defeat Otahuhu
for the Fox Memorial. During his time in New Zealand, Bourneville was plagued by injuries and suffered two broken arms, knee ligament damage and a broken jaw.
, Swinton
and St. Helens in England and for Villeneuve and AS Saint Estève
in France. He was originally a winger but moved to the second row during his time in Europe.
After his retirement he moved back to New Zealand.
In 1993 he represented France
, playing for the French against the Kiwis in Carcassonne
. During the match he broke his arm and was forced to consider retiring.
's Fight for Life charity boxing
events and scored wins over rugby union
players Steve McDowell, Va'aiga Tuigamala
and Lindsay Raki.
and competes in the national championships at the top level. This role has seen his appear on Piha Rescue
.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
) is a former rugby league
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
player. He represented both New Zealand and France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
in international rugby league and is the only dual-international the two countries share.
Early years
After playing for the Mt Albert clubMt Albert Lions
The Mount Albert Lions are a rugby league club based in Mount Albert, New Zealand. The Lions home ground is at Fowlds Park. Their patron is the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Helen Clark. In 2008 and 2009 the Lions won the Fox Memorial....
from age 18, Bourneville was selected for Auckland
Auckland rugby league team
The Auckland rugby league team is the team which traditionally represents all of the clubs which play in the Auckland Rugby League competition. The Auckland Rugby League team has traditionally been a powerhouse of New Zealand domestic rugby league...
that same year. He was involved in the 1984 Auckland Rugby League
Auckland Rugby League
The Auckland Rugby League is the governing body for the sport of rugby league in the Auckland Region of New Zealand. It is responsible for rugby league in the region and was the owner of Carlaw Park, once the "spiritual home of rugby league in New Zealand".-History:The Auckland Rugby League was...
grand final which saw Mt Albert defeat Otahuhu
Otahuhu Leopards
The Otahuhu Leopards are a rugby league club based in Otahuhu, New Zealand. The club competes in the Fox Memorial competition run by the Auckland Rugby League. They are coached by Peter Caccioppoli. Between 2000 and 2003 they also competed in the Bartercard Cup.The team are the current holders of...
for the Fox Memorial. During his time in New Zealand, Bourneville was plagued by injuries and suffered two broken arms, knee ligament damage and a broken jaw.
Professional career
In a long professional career Bourneville played for LieghLeigh Centurions
Leigh Centurions is an English professional rugby league club based in Leigh, Greater Manchester who play in the Co-operative Championship.The club was founded in 1878 as Leigh Rugby Football Club and is one of the original twenty-two clubs that formed the Northern Rugby Football Union in...
, Swinton
Swinton Lions
Swinton Lions is an English professional rugby league club from Swinton, Greater Manchester. The club has won the Championship six times and three Challenge Cups. They currently play in the Championship.-Early years:...
and St. Helens in England and for Villeneuve and AS Saint Estève
AS Saint Estève
AS Saint Estève were a French rugby league team from Perpignan, in the Catalan Pyrénées-Orientales region of France. They were founded in 1965...
in France. He was originally a winger but moved to the second row during his time in Europe.
After his retirement he moved back to New Zealand.
Representative career
Bourneville was named in the 1985 New Zealand Kiwis squad that toured Great Britain and France and played in one test match. He would have been selected again in 1986 but was unavailable due to injury.In 1993 he represented France
France national rugby league team
The France national rugby league team represent France in international rugby league tournaments. They are also sometimes referred to as "Les Tricolores" or more commonly "Les Chanticleers"...
, playing for the French against the Kiwis in Carcassonne
Carcassonne
Carcassonne is a fortified French town in the Aude department, of which it is the prefecture, in the former province of Languedoc.It is divided into the fortified Cité de Carcassonne and the more expansive lower city, the ville basse. Carcassone was founded by the Visigoths in the fifth century,...
. During the match he broke his arm and was forced to consider retiring.
Fight For Life
Bourneville was a regular competitor in Dean LonerganDean Lonergan
-Playing career:Dean represented the New Zealand Kiwis from 1986 to 1991 and also represented Auckland. He played for the Glenora Bears and City Newton Dragons in the Auckland Rugby League competition and the Canberra Raiders in the NSWRL Premiership....
's Fight for Life charity boxing
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
events and scored wins over rugby union
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...
players Steve McDowell, Va'aiga Tuigamala
Va'aiga Tuigamala
Va'aiga Lealuga Tuigamala MNZM is a Samoan rugby footballer. As well as playing for the All Blacks, he represented Samoa in both rugby union and rugby league, playing at centre and wing...
and Lindsay Raki.
Surf Lifesaver
Bourneville is now a surf lifesaver in PihaPiha
Piha is a northern New Zealand coastal settlement with a population of about 600. It is one of the most popular beaches in the area and a major day-trip destination for Aucklanders throughout the year, although especially so in summer.-Location:...
and competes in the national championships at the top level. This role has seen his appear on Piha Rescue
Piha Rescue
Piha Rescue is a New Zealand reality series following the daily actions of the Piha Surf Life Saving Club lifeguards on the famous Piha beach. Piha is one of the most rugged West Coast beaches near Auckland...
.
External links
- Mark Bourneville at the Saints Heritage Society.