Born: July 20, 1881 - Milton, NSW, Australia
Died: July 15, 1917 - Auckland
Test record: 2 Tests (1908) - 0 points
Tours: 1907-08 tour of Britain and Australia
Auckland forward William Mackrell was one of seven All Blacks representatives to tour with the trailblazing 1907-08 'All Golds'.
A long-serving Auckland rugby union rep, Mackrell was selected for the 1905-06 'Originals' All Blacks tour of Britain and France. Injury severely restricted his appearances but he did play a Test match against France on New Year's Day, 1906.
Accepting a place in the 'professional All Blacks' squad in 1907, the 26-year-old played all three matches against NSW (under union rules) en route to Britain, the fixture in Ceylon and New Zealand's first official rugby league match against Bramley.
He also played in New Zealand's first Test match, a 9-8 loss to Wales on New Year's Day, 1908, and the series-opening win over Australia among 17 appearances.
Mackrell represented Auckland from 1908-10 and was integral to the formation of the Newton club. A kick to the head in a match in 1912 forced him to retire and he died in 1917 as a result of a paralytic seizure, aged just 35.