William McKenzie (rugby union)
| Date of birth | 12 June 1871 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Place of birth | Greytown, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 1 July 1943 (aged 72) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Caulfield, Victoria, Australia | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 83 kg (183 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Occupation(s) | Newspaper circulation manager | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Wing-forward | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| All Black No. | 28 | ||
| Amateur team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| Provincial / State sides | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1889–92 1893–97 |
Wairarapa Wellington |
() | |
| National team(s) | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Points) |
| 1893–97 | New Zealand | 0 | (0) |
William "Mac" McKenzie (12 June 1871 – 1 July 1943), also known as "Offside Mac", was a rugby union player who represented New Zealand in the 1890s. Playing at wing-forward, McKenzie was first selected for the New Zealand national team on their 1893 tour of Australia, and continued to be selected up until the end of New Zealand's 1897 tour of Australia. In his 20 matches for the national side, McKenzie scored 23 points.
McKenzie was first selected provincially for Wairarapa in 1889 at the age of 18. He eventually relocated to Wellington in 1893, and joined the Petone Rugby Club. He was selected for Wellington that year, and was included in the New Zealand team to tour Australia. The 1893 tour of Australia was the first New Zealand team selected under the authority of the newly formed New Zealand Rugby Football Union. Captained by Thomas Ellison, the team played eleven matches, including three against New South Wales, and lost only one. McKenzie, playing at wing-forward, appeared in nine matches on the tour, including the team's only loss, which was to New South Wales. He did not appear in any test matches as New Zealand did not play its first full international until 1903.
McKenzie became infamous for being the first New Zealand player ordered off. In the last of the tour's matches against New South Wales referee Edward McCausland ordered McKenzie from the field. In the process of walking off McKenzie feigned a leg injury by limping, and the crowd, unaware he had been sent off and now believing he was injured, applauded him.
When New South Wales toured New Zealand in 1896 McKenzie was selected for the New Zealand team that faced them, and he played for his country again in 1896 when Queensland toured New Zealand. The following year New Zealand again toured Australia, with McKenzie selected in the Alfred Bayly captained team. The side won nine of their ten matches, with their one loss coming against New South Wales.
...
Wikipedia