Gisborne All Black Irwin dies

A109 Light Utility Helicopter flight with mayor Gisborne City from the air in November 2023.

GISBORNE-born All Black prop Mark Irwin has died at the age of 83.

Irwin, who played rugby for Poverty Bay and Gisborne High School Old Boys after his All Black career ended, was also a notable rower and a doctor.

He was an Otago player during his 25-match All Black career between 1955 and 1960. He played seven tests.

Irwin played two tests against Australia in 1955, was injured in the first test against the touring 1956 Springboks, reappeared against Australia in 1958, played twice against the 1959 Lions and played his last test in South Africa in 1960.

He played five times for the South Island in the 1950s, for Poverty Bay in 1961 and Bay of Plenty in 1962.

He also appeared in 12 matches either as an All Black trialist or for a New Zealand XV or for a Rest of New Zealand team.

Irwin was educated at Wanganui Collegiate where he was head boy. He went on to study medicine at the University of Otago.

He was in the New Zealand rowing eight nominated for the 1956 Olympic Games in Melbourne, but funding issues meant the team did not go.

Irwin worked as a GP and anaesthetist in Rotorua for more than 40 years after his rugby career.