Mark van Gisbergen 2778500 215634914 2008-05-29T01:22:15Z Good Olfactory 6454287 Quick-adding category "People from Hamilton, New Zealand" (using [[WP:HOTCAT|HotCat]]) {{Infobox Rugby Union biography | playername = Mark van Gisbergen | image = | fullname = Mark van Gisbergen | dateofbirth = {{birth date and age|1977|6|30}} | cityofbirth = [[Hamilton, New Zealand|Hamilton]] | countryofbirth = [[New Zealand]] | height = {{height|ft=5|in=10}} | weight = 13 st 12 lbs (88 kg) | nickname = Gizzy | school = | university = | relatives = | position = [[Rugby union positions#15. Full back|Full-back]] / [[Rugby union positions#10. Fly-half|Fly-half]] | currentclub = [[London Wasps]] | clubnumber = 15 | youthyears = | youthclubs = Hamilton Marist | years = 1997 &#x2010; 02<br />2002 &#x2010; | clubs = [[Waikato Rugby Union|Waikato]]<br />[[London Wasps]] | caps(points) = | repyears = 2005 &#x2010; | repteam = [[England national rugby union team|England]] | repcaps(points) = 1 | pcupdate = | repupdate = }} '''Mark van Gisbergen''' (born [[30 June]] [[1977]] in [[Hamilton, New Zealand]]) is a [[rugby union]] footballer who plays at [[Rugby union positions#15. Full back|full back]] for [[London Wasps|Wasps]] and [[England national rugby union team|England]]. He is nicknamed 'Giz' or 'Gizzy'. Van Gisbergen’s father is [[Netherlands|Dutch]] born whilst his mother is from [[New Zealand]], meaning that the player holds both New Zealand and Dutch passports. Van Gisbergen qualified to play for [[England national rugby union team|England]] on [[11 September]] [[2005]] on residency grounds, having come to England three years previously to begin his playing career at [[London Wasps|Wasps]]. He is a former [[Waikato Rugby Union|Waikato]] [[Rugby union positions#10. Fly-half|fly-half]] in the [[National Provincial Championship]], although he was unable to cement a regular starting position or secure a more financially rewarding [[Super 14|Super 12]] contract. He played his club rugby for Hamilton Marist for several seasons, often at fullback. The [[Rugby union positions#15. Full back|full back]] made his debut for [[London Wasps|Wasps]] in [[2002]] and scored just under 300 points for his club in the [[2003]]/[[2004|4]] season. He scored over 300 points in the [[2004]]/[[2005|5]] season and appeared in all but two Wasps matches. In his time with Wasps he has played in three [[Guinness Premiership|Premiership]] Finals and a [[Heineken Cup]] Final. His defensive tackling rivals that of any player in the [[Guinness Premiership|Premiership]], and his ability to run the ball back from his own half and turn defence into attack is a valuable part to the Wasps game. He is an elusive runner, who is able to get behind the defence and set up scoring opportunities for his back three colleagues. He has recently also taken up the kicking duties for Wasps and, as of late January 2006, has an accuracy rating of 85%. This is the highest of any kicker in the 2005-06 [[Guinness Premiership|Premiership]] season. He made his Test debut as a brief replacement for [[Mark Cueto]] during England's 26-16 defeat of Australia in November 2005. In a friendly before the 2006/07 season he suffered a broken chin, and was ruled out for six weeks. He was picked for the [[2007 Six Nations]] Squad. ==External links== * [http://www.england-rugby.com/englandrugby/index.cfm?fuseaction=News.News_Detail&storyid=11819 England profile] * [http://www.wasps.co.uk/playerdisplaySS.ink?skip=25&season=07/08&seasonl=2007/2008&playertype=P Wasps profile] * [http://www.itsrugby.co.uk/player_1060.html Profile and Statistcs (itsrugby.co.uk)] [[Category:1977 births|Van Gisbergen, Mark]] [[Category:Living people|Van Gisbergen, Mark]] [[Category:English rugby union footballers|Van Gisbergen, Mark]] [[Category:London Wasps players|Van Gisbergen, Mark]] [[Category:Rugby union fly-halves|Van Gisbergen, Mark]] [[Category:Rugby union fullbacks|Van Gisbergen, Mark]] [[Category:People from Hamilton, New Zealand]] [[fr:Mark van Gisbergen]] {{Wasps current}}