# Mark Anscombe

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NZ rugby union player & coach

Rugby player

Mark Anscombe Born 1957 (age 68–69) Taranaki, New Zealand School Sacred Heart College, Auckland Occupation Rugby Union Coach Rugby union career Position Flanker Amateur team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1976–1991 East Coast Bays 1977 Auckland Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1985–1989 North Harbour 54 (32) Coaching career Years Team 1994–1996 Old Wesley 1996–1997 Moseley (Director of rugby) 1999–2000 Auckland Colts 2001–2003 Auckland development 2002–2003 Blues development 2004–2005 North Harbour (Asst. Coach) 2006–2008 North Harbour (Head Coach) 2008–2010 New Zealand U20 (Asst. Coach) 2008–2011 Auckland 2011 New Zealand U20 (Head Coach) 2012–2014 Ulster 2016–2017 Canada

**Mark Anscombe** (born 1957) is a New Zealand [rugby union](/source/Rugby_union) coach, having played rugby spanning across 15 years. Anscombe (father of Welsh international [Gareth Anscombe](/source/Gareth_Anscombe)) has been a rugby union coach since 1994, coaching various ages and styles in both hemispheres. He is a former head coach of the [Canadian national team](/source/Canada_national_rugby_union_team).

Anscombe played over 200 club games for East Coast Bays from 1976 to 1991. Anscombe captained East Coast Bays to back to back Harbour Club championships in 1985 and 1986 over North Shore and Takapuna respectively. After retiring from rugby in 1990 Anscombe then coached the Bays premier side from 1990 to 1994 including the 1991 Harbour Club rugby championship win over Takapuna in 1991. Bays were Championship runners up in 1993 and 1994. Anscombe is one of five East Coast Bays Rugby 200 game double centurions alongside Ian Coley, Slade McFarland, Wayne Hill and Rhys Bennett.

## Playing career

Originally from Taranaki, New Zealand, Anscombe moved to [Auckland](/source/Auckland) at a young age and played as a flanker in Auckland for East Coast Bays. He played for an [Auckland representative team](/source/Auckland_Rugby_Football_Union) in 1977, before playing provincial rugby for the newly founded team [North Harbour](/source/North_Harbour_Rugby_Union) between 1985 and 1989.[1][2] He captained the side on many occasions, guiding them to the [National Provincial Championship Second division](/source/National_Provincial_Championship_(1976%E2%80%932005)) title in 1987.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

## Coaching career

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### Europe

After playing in New Zealand for 15 years, Anscombe turned his attention to coaching, where he began in 1994 in [Dublin](/source/Dublin). He was the head coach for [Old Wesley](/source/Old_Wesley_R.F.C.) in the [All-Ireland League](/source/All-Ireland_League_(rugby_union)) where in his first season in charge, the side finished sixth, while in eighth in his second. In 1996, he gained a professional contract with English side [Moseley](/source/Birmingham_Moseley_Rugby_Club) as a director of rugby, where he signed six internationals to the club.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

However, his stay at the club was short lived, as Anscombe left the club in February 1997, being replaced with [Allan Lewis](/source/Allan_Lewis_(rugby_union))[3]

### New Zealand

After a short break in New Zealand, Anscombe became a highly recognised coach in Auckland, after coaching the Auckland Colts between 1999 and 2000, before becoming a development coach for the region in 2001. In 2002 and 2003, he joined the regions [Super 12](/source/Super_12) side the [Blues](/source/Blues_(Super_Rugby)) as a development coach, which saw Anscombe coach the up-and-coming talent in the franchise.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

In 2004, he became an assistant coach for Allan Pollock at [North Harbour](/source/North_Harbour_Rugby_Union). He helped the team to the top four in just two seasons, having seen North Harbour finish sixth in [2004](/source/2004_National_Provincial_Championship). However, in the [2005 National Provincial Championship](/source/2005_National_Provincial_Championship), eventual champions [Auckland](/source/Auckland_rugby_union_team) defeated North Harbour 38–24 in the semi-finals.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] Ahead of the [2006 Air New Zealand Cup](/source/2006_Air_New_Zealand_Cup), Anscombe replaced Pollock as head coach at the province, and guided the team to second in Pool A, before being knocked out at the quarter-finals by [Otago](/source/Otago_Rugby_Football_Union) 56–21.[4][5] In 2007, North Harbour fell back down the standings, finishing in ninth in the [2007 Air New Zealand Cup](/source/2007_Air_New_Zealand_Cup), then twelfth in [2008 Air New Zealand Cup](/source/2008_Air_New_Zealand_Cup).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

In March 2008, Anscombe was appointed by the [New Zealand Rugby Union](/source/New_Zealand_Rugby_Union) as an assistant coach for the inaugural [IRB Junior World Championship](/source/2008_IRB_Junior_World_Championship). Anscombe and head coach [Dave Rennie](/source/Dave_Rennie) made a formidable partnership at the "Baby Blacks", guiding the side to consecutive Champions between 2008 and [2010](/source/2010_IRB_Junior_World_Championship).[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

During that time, Anscombe coached [Auckland](/source/Auckland_rugby_union_team) in a period that was largely unsuccessful, though narrowly lost out on the final in [2010](/source/2010_ITM_Cup) after losing to [Waikato](/source/Waikato_Rugby_Union) 38–37. In 2011, Anscombe replaced Rennie as the head coach of the New Zealand under 20 team, guiding the Baby Blacks to a fourth consecutive title. At the end of 2011, after a poor season with Auckland, Anscombe left the province and headed overseas.[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*]

### Europe

In 2012, he was named the new [Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby) head coach, replacing Brian McLaughlin who failed to get his contract re-signed.[6] His first competitive game as Ulster coach was on 31 August 2012, an 18–10 win against [Glasgow Warriors](/source/Glasgow_Warriors) in the [2012–13 Pro 12](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_Pro_12) at [Ravenhill](/source/Ravenhill_Stadium).[7][8] Ulster finished top of the table with 17 wins, and after beating Welsh side [Scarlets](/source/Scarlets) in the semi-finals 28–17, it was an-all Ireland final between Ulster and [Leinster](/source/Leinster_Rugby). Leinster were the eventual champions, defeating Anscombe's side 24–18.

In Europe, Ulster was seeded fifth after the pool phase of the [2012–13 Heineken Cup](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_Heineken_Cup), however, they were defeated by [Saracens](/source/Saracens_F.C.) in the quarters 27–16. In Anscombe's second season in charge, Ulster finished fourth at the end of the regular season, but was again beaten by Leinster in the semi-finals 13–9. However, Ulster won all six of their pool games in the [2013–14 Heineken Cup](/source/2013%E2%80%9314_Heineken_Cup), which included over English and French giants [Leicester Tigers](/source/Leicester_Tigers) and [Montpellier](/source/Montpellier_H%C3%A9rault_Rugby). However, like in 2012, they faced Saracens in the quarter-finals and lost, this time 17–15. On 30 June 2014, Anscombe left his position as Ulster Rugby's head coach after two seasons in charge at Ravenhill.[9]

### Head coach of Canada

On 30 March 2016, Anscombe was named the new head coach of the [Canadian national team](/source/Canada_national_rugby_union_team), replacing interim head coach [Francois Ratier](/source/Francois_Ratier).[10][11] His first match in charge was a home game against [Japan](/source/Japan_national_rugby_union_team) at [BC Place](/source/BC_Place), where despite being in the lead for most of the match, Japan were the victors, 26–22. A week later, Canada defeated [Russia](/source/Russia_national_rugby_union_team) 46–21, and were narrowly beaten by [Italy](/source/Italy_national_rugby_union_team) on 26 June, 20–18. During their [2016 November tour to Europe](/source/2016_end-of-year_rugby_union_internationals), Canada lost all three games on their campaign. They played [Ireland](/source/Ireland_national_rugby_union_team) for the first match, which saw the Irish claim a 52–21 win. The following week, Canada lost 21–16 to [Romania](/source/Romania_national_rugby_union_team) before narrowly losing to [Samoa](/source/Samoa_national_rugby_union_team) 25–23 at a neutral venue in [France](/source/France).

In March 2017, Canada finished fifth in the [2017 Americas Rugby Championship](/source/2017_Americas_Rugby_Championship), only gaining a single win; a 36–15 win over [Chile](/source/Chile_national_rugby_union_team). In the other four games, Canada lost 20–6 to [Argentina XV](/source/Argentina_XV_national_rugby_union_team), 51–34 to the [United States](/source/United_States_national_rugby_union_team) before losing to [Uruguay](/source/Uruguay_national_rugby_union_team) for the first ever time since 2002, 17–13, and a first ever loss to [Brazil](/source/Brazil_national_rugby_union_team) 24–23. With other international results over time, Canada dropped to their all-time low on the [World Rugby Rankings](/source/World_Rugby_Rankings), dropping to 23rd. During the [June internationals](/source/2017_mid-year_rugby_union_internationals), Anscombe led Canada to two back-to-back losses, 13–0 to [Georgia](/source/Georgia_national_rugby_union_team) and 25–9 to Romania. Both tests were historic ones, as it was the first time that Canada had lost to both teams at home. While the result against Georgia was the first time since 2008 that Canada had failed to score any points in a test match. Following Canada's June internationals, Anscombe led his side into the [USA v Canada play-offs](/source/2019_Rugby_World_Cup_%E2%80%93_Americas_qualification) for the [2019 Rugby World Cup qualification](/source/2019_Rugby_World_Cup_qualifying). The first leg of the play-offs saw the game end in a 28–all draw in [Hamilton, Ontario](/source/Hamilton%2C_Ontario). However the second leg was convincingly won by the United States 52–16, to see the United States qualify as the leading Qualifying Americas nation for the first time ever, overtaking Canada who has held the position for the previous 2 World Cups.

Following the 2017 June tests and 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifiers against the United States, Rugby Canada conducted a full review of their June–July campaign. The review concluded with the sacking of Anscombe as Canadian rugby head coach on 4 August 2017.[12] Anscombe left the national team with just 2 wins from 15 games, and conceded over 400 points in as many games, while seeing the side slip to their worst ever World Ranking of 23rd.

In 2022, Anscombe joined [Wellington School, Somerset](/source/Wellington_School%2C_Somerset) as Rugby Consultant.

## Honours

**[New Zealand Under-20](/source/New_Zealand_national_under-20_rugby_union_team) *(as assistant coach)***

- **[World Rugby Under 20 Championship](/source/World_Rugby_Under_20_Championship)** - Winners: [2008](/source/2008_IRB_Junior_World_Championship), [2009](/source/2009_IRB_Junior_World_Championship), [2010](/source/2010_IRB_Junior_World_Championship)

**[New Zealand Under-20](/source/New_Zealand_national_under-20_rugby_union_team) *(as head coach)***

- **[World Rugby Under 20 Championship](/source/World_Rugby_Under_20_Championship)** - Winners: [2011](/source/2011_IRB_Junior_World_Championship)

**[Ulster](/source/Ulster_Rugby)**

- **[Pro12](/source/Pro14)** - Runners-up: [2013](/source/2012%E2%80%9313_Pro12)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** [Rugby: Harbour and Aucks set to clash](http://m.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10660567)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Mark Anscombe to coach Auckland](https://web.archive.org/web/20160816174855/http://www.newshub.co.nz/sport/mark-anscombe-to-coach-auckland-2008111013#axzz4ED4OFruz)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** [Profile](http://www.moseleyrugby.co.uk/report_display12.php?menitem=70), moseleyrugby.co.uk; accessed 27 February 2017.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [Northland Air New Zealand Cup coaches named](http://www.allblacks.com/News/3044/northland-air-new-zealand-cup-coaches-named)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [Otago notches half-century over North Harbour](http://www.allblacks.com/News/4900/otago-notches-half-century-over-north-harbour)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** [Mark Anscombe is named as the new Ulster Head Coach](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/17289654)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Ulster 18-10 Glasgow Warriors"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/rugby-union/19400661). *BBC Sport*. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** ["Anscombe's reign gets off to winning start"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120903012253/http://www.herald.ie/sport/rugby/anscombes-reign-gets-off-to-winning-start-3216725.html). *Herald*. 1 September 2012. Archived from [the original](http://www.herald.ie/sport/rugby/anscombes-reign-gets-off-to-winning-start-3216725.html) on 3 September 2012. Retrieved 6 September 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Mark Anscombe leaves position as Ulster head coach"](https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/rugby-union/28095309). *BBC Sport*. 30 June 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["MARK ANSCOMBE ANNOUNCED AS RUGBY CANADA'S MEN'S FIFTEENS PROGRAM HEAD COACH"](https://web.archive.org/web/20160722150143/http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?clientID=3817&leagueID=13651). Archived from [the original](http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/newsletterarchive.cfm?leagueID=13651&clientID=3817) on 22 July 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2016.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** [Anscombe confirmed as Canada coach](https://www.americasrugbynews.com/2016/03/30/anscombe-confirmed-canada-coach/)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** [RUGBY CANADA STATEMENT ON NATIONAL MEN’S 15S LEADERSHIP AND PROGRAM REVIEW](http://www.rugbycanada.ca/leagues/newsletter.cfm?clientID=3817&leagueID=0&page=100839)

## External links

- [New Zealand Rugby History page](http://www.rugbyhistory.co.nz/player/mark-s-anscombe)

- [So who is Mark Anscombe](https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sport/rugby/rabodirect-pro12/so-who-is-new-ulster-coach-mark-anscombe-28724146.html)

Sporting positions Preceded by Francois Ratier (Interim) Canada National Rugby Union Coach 2016–2017 Succeeded by Kingsley Jones

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