# Mac McCallion

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{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2019}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| image           =
| image_size      = 
| caption         = 
| fullname        = Warrick Lee McCallion<ref name= warrick group=notes>Different sources give different versions of his first names as Warrick Lee, Warwick Lee, or Leigh Warwick.</ref>
| birth_date      = {{birth date|1950|7|26|df=yes}}
| birth_place     = 
| death_date      = {{death date and age|2018|3|14|1950|7|26|df=yes}}
| death_place     = [Manurewa](/source/Manurewa), New Zealand
| height          = 
| weight          = 
| ru_position     = [Loose forward](/source/Rugby_union_positions)
| amatyears1      = 
| amatteam1       = 
| years1          = 
| clubs1          = 
| apps1           = 
| points1         = 
| province1       = [Counties](/source/Counties_Manukau_Rugby_Football_Union)
| provinceyears1  = 1976–80
| provinceapps1   = 23
| provincepoints1 = 28
| repteam1        = [New Zealand Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_All_Blacks)
| repyears1       = 1978–79
| repcaps1        = 8
| reppoints1      = 4
| coachyears1     = 1995–99
| coachyears2     = 1996–99
| coachyears3     = 2002–03
| coachteams1     = {{rut|Counties Manukau}}
| coachteams2     = {{rut|Blues}} (assistant)
| coachteams3     = {{nrut|Fiji}} 
}}
'''Warrick Lee''' "'''Mac'''" '''McCallion'''<ref name=warrick group=notes /> (26 July 1950 – 14 March 2018) was a New Zealand [rugby union](/source/rugby_union) player and coach.<ref>[https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/rugby_union/rugby_world_cup/team_pages/fiji/3232903.stm McCallion rues Scotland defeat] BBC.co.uk 1 November 2003</ref>

McCallion served in the [Royal New Zealand Infantry Regiment](/source/Royal_New_Zealand_Infantry_Regiment) of the [New Zealand Army](/source/New_Zealand_Army) during the [Vietnam War](/source/Vietnam_War).<ref name="vwnz">{{cite web|title=Tpr Warwick Lee McCallion|url=http://vietnamwar.govt.nz/veteran/tpr-wl-mccallion|website=Memories of New Zealand and the Vietnam War|accessdate=14 March 2018}}</ref> Aged 17, and having lied about his age to enlist, he was a member of the secret Faceless 26 Ghost Unit of the [New Zealand Special Air Service](/source/New_Zealand_Special_Air_Service).<ref name="taare">{{cite news|last1=Shand|first1=Matt|title=Forgotten SAS Vietnam War hero denied medal|url=http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/99283095/Forgotten-SAS-Vietnam-War-hero-denied-medal|accessdate=14 March 2018|work=Stuff.co.nz|date=3 December 2017|language=en}}</ref>

After the war, he played for [Counties](/source/Counties_Manukau_Rugby_Football_Union) from 1976 to 1980, and made eight appearances for [New Zealand Māori](/source/M%C4%81ori_All_Blacks) in the late 1970s.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/l-w-mccallion |title=Leigh Warwick McCallion |website=New Zealand Rugby History |accessdate=15 March 2018}}</ref>

McCallion was named New Zealand coach of the year for his work with the [NPC Division One](/source/Air_New_Zealand_Cup) team [Counties](/source/Counties_Manukau_Rugby_Union) in both 1996 and 1997. He enhanced his reputation further as [Graham Henry](/source/Graham_Henry)'s assistant at the [Auckland Blues](/source/Blues_(Super_rugby_franchise)) during a four-year spell that saw them reach three consecutive [Super 12](/source/Super_Rugby) finals, lifting the trophy on two occasions in 1997 and 1998.

McCallion was appointed Fiji's national coaching director in March 2002. He took the [Fiji national team](/source/Fiji_national_rugby_union_team) to the [2003 Rugby World Cup](/source/2003_Rugby_World_Cup), but quit later that year, citing frustration at Fiji being overlooked for tournaments by the stronger rugby nations.<ref>[http://www.scrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/50441.html McCallion quits Fiji in disgust] Scrum.com, 2 December 2003</ref>

McCallion and his wife Suzie had two children.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://notices.nzherald.co.nz/obituaries/nzherald-nz/obituary.aspx?n=warrick-lee-mccallion&pid=188449188 |title=Warrick Lee McCallion death notice | work=New Zealand Herald | date=15 March 2018 |accessdate=15 March 2018}}</ref> He died from cancer in [Manurewa](/source/Manurewa) on 14 March 2018.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=12012400 |title=Rugby: former Counties Manukau, Blues coach Mac McCallion passes away | work=New Zealand Herald | date=14 March 2018 |accessdate=14 March 2018}}</ref>

==Notes==
{{reflist|group=notes}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|
 before={{flagicon|FJI}} [Ifereimi Tawake](/source/Ifereimi_Tawake) <br>(caretaker)| 
 title=[Fiji National Rugby Union Coach](/source/Fiji_national_rugby_union_team)|
 years=2002–2003|
 after={{flagicon|NZL}} [Wayne Pivac](/source/Wayne_Pivac)}}
{{s-end}}

{{Fiji Squad 2003 World Cup}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:McCallion, Mac}}
Category:1950 births
Category:2018 deaths
Category:New Zealand rugby union players
Category:Māori All Blacks players
Category:New Zealand Army soldiers
Category:New Zealand military personnel of the Vietnam War
Category:Fiji national rugby union team coaches
Category:New Zealand expatriates in Fiji
Category:Deaths from cancer in New Zealand
Category:Counties Manukau rugby union players
Category:Rugby union number eights
Category:Rugby union flankers
Category:New Zealand rugby union coaches

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Mac McCallion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_McCallion) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mac_McCallion?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.