Gary Mercer

Gary Mercer
Personal information
Full name Gary Ivan Mercer
Born (1966-06-22) 22 June 1966
New Zealand
Playing information
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Position Wing, Second-row
Club
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Pikiao (BOPRL)
1987–1989 Bradford Northern
1990–1991 Warrington
1992–1997 Leeds Rhinos 43 0 0 172
1998–2001 Halifax Blue Sox 76 16 0 0 64
2001 Warrington Wolves 18 2 0 0 8
2001 Leeds Rhinos 6 0 0 0 0
2002 Castleford Tigers 1 0 0 0 0
Total 101 61 0 0 244
Representative
Years Team Pld T G FG P
Bay of Plenty
Northern Districts
New Zealand Māori
1987–1993 New Zealand 21 4 0 0 16
1988 Rest of the World 1 0 1 0 2
Coaching information
Rugby league
Club
Years Team Gms W D L W%
1999–2000 Halifax RLFC 58 22 1 35 38
2004 Castleford Tigers 21 6 0 15 29
Total 79 28 1 50 35
Rugby union
Representative
Years Team Gms W D L W%
2004-12
2012-present		 Glasgow Warriors
Scottish Rugby Academy
Source: RLP

Gary Ivan Mercer (born 22 June 1966) is a New Zealand rugby league and rugby union coach and former professional footballer. A New Zealand international representative player, he has spent most of his career in Britain both playing and coaching. He was a former defence coach of Glasgow Warriors and a former coach at the SRU working in their Scottish Rugby Academy.[1]He is currently head coach of Biggar RFC.

Playing career

In his long career he has represented the New Zealand Kiwis within rugby league and New Zealand Māori sides and has played for the Leeds Rhinos, Bradford Northern, Warrington Wolves, Castleford Tigers and Halifax.[2]

County Cup final appearances

Gary Mercer played Fullback in Bradford Northern's 12-12 draw with Castleford in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup final during the 1987–88 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday Saturday 17 October 1987, and played Centre, i.e. number 4, in the 11-2 victory over Castleford in the 1987 Yorkshire Cup final replay during the 1987–88 season at Elland Road, Leeds on Saturday Saturday 31 October 1987.

Regal Trophy final appearances

Gary Mercer played Left-Second-row, i.e. number 11, in Warrington's 12-2 victory over Bradford Northern in the 1990–91 Regal Trophy final during the 1990–91 season at Headingley Stadium, Leeds on Saturday 12 January 1991.

Coaching career

Rugby League

Mercer was also the player-coach at Halifax and Castleford.[3][4]

Rugby Union

Glasgow Warriors

Mercer switched to Rugby Union and became the defence coach for the Glasgow Warriors from June 2005[1] to June 2012[5] leaving the Warriors at the same time as Sean Lineen. While he was there praise was heaped on his defensive coaching.[6]

Scotland

He became the Scotland Under-20 assistant coach and worked with the Under-21 side.[7]He then worked for the Scottish Rugby Academy.[8]

Yorkshire Carnegie

He left the Scottish academy in August 2014[9] to have a brief spell running Yorkshire Carnegie.[10]

Glasgow Hawks

Mercer is now the Head Coach of Glasgow Hawks.[11]

Family

Mercer currently lives with a son, Zach, a daughter, Clara, and his wife, Karen, in Glasgow, Scotland.. He also has twin daughters who are currently living in Noosa, Australia. Gary has 4 brothers and played alongside his older brother Danny for Central Rugby League in the Bay of Plenty.

References

  1. 1 2 https://uk.linkedin.com/pub/gary-mercer/82/751/61b
  2. ↑ Mercer willing to play on BBC Sport, 3 April 2001
  3. ↑ Hanley in surprise return with Castleford The Guardian, 20 May 2004
  4. ↑ Mercer coaxed out of retirement BBC Sport, 18 April 2002
  5. ↑ "The Shock Of The Swap". scottishrugbyblog.co.uk.
  6. ↑ "Exclusive: Gary Mercer". scottishrugby.org.
  7. ↑ "Glasgow Warriors - Gary Mercer". glasgowwarriors.com.
  8. ↑ "Mercer to depart Scottish Rugby". scottishrugby.org.
  9. ↑ "Yorkshire Carnegie appoint Gary Mercer as head coach". yorkshirepost.co.uk.
  10. ↑ "BBC Sport - Yorkshire Carnegie: Gary Mercer leaves Championship club". BBC Sport.
  11. ↑ "Gary Mercer - 1st XV - Glasgow Hawks RFC". glasgowhawks.com.

External links

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