Biography Bull Allen (rugby union)

1 biography

1.1 childhood
1.2 taranaki years
1.3 selection blacks
1.4 wellington hurricanes & central vikings
1.5 tv appearances

biography
childhood

mark allen born in stratford, new zealand, on 31 july 1967, steve allen , annette richards. father steve ran auto-electrical store had been established steve s father colin in 1945. allen attended stratford primary school , received secondary education @ stratford high school. stood out in both wrestling , in rugby, representing first xv in latter.

taranaki years

upon leaving school allen took apprenticeship father, , stood out stratford in age-grade , club rugby exceptionally mobile prop forward. played first match taranaki in annual queens birthday weekend fixture in 1988 against wanganui. later season selected rugby news new zealand youth team toured germany , scotland , coached fred allen , sid going. on tour allen picked nickname bull , coined going s nephew quentin in reference character in american tv series night court showing on new zealand television. nickname stick remainder of career , beyond.

in 1989 allen secured permanent place in taranaki front row, , in 1990 awarded taranaki player of year after impressing strong scrummaging , hard running. toured canada new zealand development team @ end of year , missed out on black selection when black front row in france plagued injury, losing out olo brown because couldn t play tighthead prop.

in 1991 allen struggled asthma , flu, , taranaki side relegated second division after finishing @ bottom of table. in 1992 team fought hard in competitive second division , came out on top, returning first division following year. taranaki s success had lot form , leadership of bull , appointed captain final 4 games. scored 2 tries in first match captain, , 2 in semi-final win against manawatu, finishing season 10 tries , reputation mobile , dynamic prop forward in country.

selection blacks

1993 saw allen selected blacks first time, making first appearance in test match against samoa @ eden park. toured england , scotland side @ end of year, playing 7 more games in black jersey. following year richard loe returned suspension, , coach laurie mains controversially preferred loe on allen on grounds allen flashy , not strong enough scrummager. add injury insult allen suffered unique blow when ripped pectorial muscle in match against auckland , missed rest of season, saw taranaki again relegated second division.

allen recovered in time attend black training camps on summer in preparation world cup, although made headlines after drowning in whitewater rafting accident. trialled world cup team, again rejected 35-year-old loe chosen ahead of him. again, though, allen led taranaki side victory in second division , return division one. leadership proved crucial in semi-final against bay of plenty when prop gordon slater appeared have been victim of foul play , carried off broken leg, , year awarded hilary commission fair play award. bull fan club appeased when allen selected black tour of italy , france played 4 games , scored try against cote basque-landes.

wellington hurricanes & central vikings

in 1996 rugby football became professional in new zealand formation of super 12 involving teams new zealand, australia , south africa. allen appointed captain of wellington hurricanes team, , led them in new zealand s first ever professional rugby football match. made test match appearance substitute against scotland season, , toured south africa first black team win test match series against south africa on turf. same weekend series sealed, while allen in south africa, taranaki won prestigious ranfurly shield in victory on auckland. allen s perceived lack of enthusiasm when put on spot in impromptu interview led bad feeling among taranaki supporters, , upon returning allen did not resume captaincy andy slater. end-of-year 80–34 defeat @ hands of otago proved allen s final appearance in amber , black jersey after 110 games province.

the following year bull joined newly created central vikings team, merger of manawatu , hawkes bay unions under hurricanes coach frank oliver, in attempt form more competitive team foot in first division. allen named captain, couldn t add third second division victory 2 d won taranaki. made 4 test match appearances in new zealand season substitute against argentina, south africa , australia, scoring test match try against argentina. selected second black tour of uk, allen made appearance substitute against wales, , selected starting line-up final match against england. commonly considered have been peak of allen s rugby career. in 1998 allen devastated serious injury when diagnosed prolapsed disc in back. @ same time allen recognised priority of family life , decided retire altogether game after playing 19 games , 8 test matches blacks , scoring 2 tries.

tv appearances

allen well-known face on new zealand tv shaved head, grin , personality. hhosted tv shows such ansett new zealand time of life, footy show , game of two-halves.