Mark William Irwin (10 February 1935 – 30 June 2018) was a New Zealand

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

player. A

prop A prop, formally known as (theatrical) property, is an object used on stage or screen by actors during a performance or screen production. In practical terms, a prop is considered to be anything movable or portable on a stage or a set, distinc ...

, Irwin represented , , and at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987, ...

, from 1955 to 1960. He played 25 matches for the All Blacks including seven internationals. Born in Gisborne, Irwin was educated at

Wanganui Collegiate School Whanganui Collegiate School (formerly Wanganui Collegiate School; see here) is a state-integrated, coeducational, day and boarding, secondary school in Whanganui, Manawatū-Whanganui region, New Zealand. The school is affiliated to the Anglican c ...

where he was head boy, and played in the 1st XV rugby team from 1950 to 1952. He went on to study medicine at the

University of Otago , image_name = University of Otago Registry Building2.jpg , image_size = , caption = University clock tower , motto = la, Sapere aude , mottoeng = Dare to be wise , established = 1869; 152 years ago , type = Public research collegiate ...

, graduating

MB ChB Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery ( la, Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae; abbreviated most commonly MBBS), is the primary medical degree awarded by medical schools in countries that follow the tradition of the United King ...

in 1961. An accomplished rower, Irwin was in the eight nominated to represent New Zealand at the 1956 Summer Olympics in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

; however, the crew did not make final selection. In his medical career, Irwin worked in Rotorua for over 40 years as a general practitioner and

anaesthetist Anesthesiology, anaesthesiology, or anaesthesia is the medical specialty concerned with the total perioperative care of patients before, during and after surgery. It encompasses anesthesia, intensive care medicine, critical emergency medicine ...

. Irwin died in Rotorua on 30 June 2018, aged 83.

References

1935 births 2018 deaths Rugby union players from Gisborne, New Zealand People educated at Whanganui Collegiate School University of Otago alumni New Zealand rugby union players New Zealand international rugby union players Otago rugby union players Poverty Bay rugby union players Bay of Plenty rugby union players Rugby union props New Zealand male rowers {{NewZealand-rugbyunion-bio-1930s-stub