Mark Ella facts for kids

Mark Gordon Ella is a famous Indigenous Australian rugby union player. He was born on June 5, 1959. Mark played in the important position of fly-half (also called five-eighth). He played for the Wallabies, which is Australia's national rugby team, 25 times. He was also the captain of the Wallabies for 10 games.

Mark Ella first toured with the Wallabies in 1979 in Argentina. His first official Test match for Australia was in 1980. This was during the Bledisloe Cup Test series against the All Blacks from New Zealand. The Wallabies won this series, which was a big deal! It was the first time Australia had won a three-game series against New Zealand since 1949. It was also the first time they kept the Bledisloe Cup on Australian soil since 1934.

In 1982, Mark became the captain of the Australian team. He led the Wallabies 10 times between 1982 and 1983. He was the second Indigenous Australian to captain a national sports team, after Arthur Beetson. Mark is especially famous for his amazing performances during the 1984 tour of Britain and Ireland. On this tour, Australia achieved the Grand Slam. This means they beat all four "Home Nations" (England, Ireland, Scotland, and Wales) in their own countries. Mark scored a try in every single one of those four matches!

Mark and his brothers, Glen (who is his twin) and Gary, all went to Matraville High School. They learned to play rugby there. All three brothers went on to play for the Australian national team. Mark also played for local teams like Randwick and New South Wales.

Playing Rugby: Mark Ella's Style

The Fly-Half Position

Bob Dwyer, who used to coach the Wallabies, thought Mark Ella was one of the best Australian players ever. Dwyer said Mark was the best at understanding how the game works. The main job of a fly-half is to make defenders come towards them. This creates open space for other players to run into. Mark Ella was a master at this.

Mark's way of playing fly-half was very special. He stood closer to his scrum-half (the player who passes him the ball) than most other players. This made it hard for defenders to stop him once he passed the ball. Mark explained that he usually stood about 5 meters from the scrum-half.

Running and Passing Skills

Mark Ella was known for running straight. This was a clever trick to make defenders focus on him. Once they committed to tackling him, he would pass the ball to a teammate. This left the defenders out of position and created chances for his team.

To play this way, Mark needed amazing ball-handling skills. He was known for his "adhesive hands," meaning he rarely dropped the ball. He also wanted the ball passed to him very quickly, like a "rocket." He knew every second counted in rugby.

Mark was also great at starting attacks very quickly. He had excellent vision and could "read the play" to see where the open spaces were. He would pass the ball instantly to his teammates, like David Campese, who were waiting to run into those spaces. One newspaper called him "the detonator which explodes the brilliance of the Australian backs."

However, Mark didn't just pass fast all the time. He knew when to slow down the pass to control the game. He believed that quick passes without thinking could give the advantage back to the other team.

Supporting Teammates

Mark Ella was also famous for always supporting his teammates. After he passed the ball, he would keep moving. He would get himself into a position to receive the ball back or help the attack continue. This "off-the-ball running" is a sign of a truly great player.

His ability to "keep the ball alive" often led to incredible tries. Spectators loved watching him play because his style was so entertaining.

Mark Ella's International Rugby Journey

Mark Ella was considered for the national team in 1979. He played well in games for New South Wales and Sydney against the touring Ireland team. The Irish captain even said Mark was the Australian player who caused them the most trouble.

First Wallabies Tour: 1979 Argentina

In 1979, Mark was chosen for the Wallabies tour of Argentina. He made his debut for the Wallabies in a match against Interior on October 16, 1979, scoring a try in a big win. He played in other provincial matches during this tour.

Bledisloe Cup Success: 1980

In 1980, the Wallabies played the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup Test series. Mark Ella played a key role in this series. He was named "man of the match" in a game against the All Blacks before the Test series began.

In his first Test match for Australia, Mark scored a "dropped goal." He also helped set up a try for teammate Mick Martin. Australia won the first Test 13–9.

One of Mark Ella's most famous moments happened in the third Test against New Zealand in 1980. He made an incredible "around-the-body-pass" to a teammate, leading to a try. This was a truly amazing play that showed his unique talent. Australia won that game 26-10, which was their biggest win against New Zealand at the time.

Australia vs. France (1981)

In 1981, Mark was initially not selected for the first Test against France. However, due to an injury to another player, Mark was brought back into the team for the second Test. In that game, he helped create another try for Michael O'Connor.

Retirement and Grand Slam

In 1984, Mark Ella was not made captain of the Wallabies, with Andrew Slack taking the role. However, Mark was a crucial part of the team that achieved the "Grand Slam" on the tour of the UK. He scored a try in all four Test matches, just like he had done on the 1977/78 Australian Schoolboys tour.

At just 25 years old, Mark Ella surprised everyone by announcing his retirement from rugby. He turned down many offers to continue playing.

After Rugby

After retiring from playing, Mark Ella continued to be involved in sports. He became a director at the Sports and Entertainment Group. In 2005, he was one of the first five people to be honored in the Australian Rugby Union Hall of Fame. He was also inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame in 1997 and the IRB Hall of Fame in 2013.

In 2007, he released his autobiography, a book about his own life, which he wrote with journalist Bret Harris.

Mark has also worked in sports management and coaching. In 2010, he worked for the Port Macquarie-Hastings Council as a sports and events manager. Later that year, he returned to a coaching role with the Wallabies.

He also works at NITV, which is Australia's free Indigenous television station. Since 2011, he has been the Executive Producer and Head of NITV Sport. He focuses on showing the achievements of Indigenous athletes.

In 2021, Mark Ella donated his collection of five jerseys from the famous 1984 Grand Slam tour to the Australian Rugby Museum.

Recognition and Legacy

Many people who played with or against Mark Ella consider him one of the greatest rugby players ever.

David Campese, a former Australian winger, called Mark "the best rugby player I have ever known or seen." Michael Hawker, who played alongside Mark, said he was "one of the greatest players– or probably the greatest player– I've ever seen." He also believed Mark changed how the game could be played. Simon Poidevin said Mark Ella was "the most talented rugby player I have ever seen."

Even rugby league players, like Wally Lewis, who played with Mark in school, called him the best player they had seen in either rugby union or rugby league. Michael O'Connor, who played with Mark for Australia, also said Mark was the best player he ever played with in either sport. He described Mark as a "genius" who could understand the game instantly.

In 2002, former Welsh player Eddie Butler ranked Mark Ella as the number one fly-half in rugby history. He called Mark his "all-time favourite player" and said he was "by a long way the most influential player of his generation." In 2020, former England fly-half Stuart Barnes ranked Mark as the third greatest fly-half of all time.

Mark Ella has received many honors for his contributions to rugby. He was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in 1984. He was also inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 1987. He received the Centenary Medal and an Australian Sports Medal in 2001.

In 2013, an Australian sports magazine named Mark Ella as one of the four Australian Invincibles in rugby union. This is a special title for legendary players, similar to "Immortals" in rugby league. He was named alongside Col Windon, Ken Catchpole, and David Campese.

See also

In Spanish: Mark Ella para niños