With an outstanding career spanning over 13 years, Mark Ella is one of Australian rugby union's greatest legends.
Current work
Mark Ella now runs a successful communications company responsible for servicing and implementing marketing strategies for the Bundaberg Rum Company, the naming rights sponsor of the Australian Rugby Union.
He also serves as an Ambassador for Street Work, an organisation which helps address the problems of crime, violence, destructive family relationships, rejection and isolation, learning difficulties, poor employment opportunities and substance abuse among young people, and which helps get young lives back on track.
Since 2011 Mark has been the executive producer of Internal Productions and Sport, NITV (National Indigenous Television).
Previous experience
Sport
Mark commenced his representative rugby career when he was selected to play in the 1977 Australian Rugby Schoolboy team, which toured undefeated to England, Ireland, Wales, Holland, France and Japan. From 1978 to 1984, Mark played for the Randwick Rugby Club, including 6 premiership appearances. Then from 1979 to 1984 he played in the Australian Sevens Team, winning 3 Hong Kong Championship Trophies and in 1998 as coach, led the team to a Bronze Medal at the Commonwealth Games in Kuala Lumpur.
In 1979 Mark represented Sydney and NSW Rugby Union for the first time on the Wallaby tour to Argentina. Between 1980 and 1984 he represented Australia 25 times, captaining the team for the 1982-83 season. In his final test season, the Grand Slam Tour of Britain and Ireland, Mark scored a try in each of the four Test matches against the Home Unions.
Awards:
Amongst the recognition he has received for his outstanding sportsmanship, in 1982, Mark was named Young Australian of the Year and in 1983 made a Member the Order of Australia (AM). He has been inducted into the Australian Sports Hall of Fame and the International Rugby Hall of Fame Inaugural XV.
In 1988 Mark was appointed Chairman of the Aboriginal Cricket Association taking on the role of Manager during a 7 week tour of England to commemorate first tour of any Australian sporting side overseas, which was an Aboriginal cricket team.
