Marc Ellis (rugby)
A dynamic New Zealand athlete who conquered both rugby codes at the highest level before reinventing himself as a media personality and entrepreneur.
Born 1971 (age 55)·NZ dual-rugby international player·Birthday: October 8·Generation X
Biography
Marc Ellis scored a hat-trick for the Melbourne Storm in the 1999 NRL Grand Final, though his team lost. The New Zealander first earned selection for the All Blacks in rugby union in 1992, scoring a memorable try on debut. Born in 1971, he switched to rugby league and joined the Auckland Warriors in their inaugural season, becoming a fan favorite for his flamboyant try-scoring celebrations. Ellis possessed a rare blend of speed, power, and showmanship. After retiring, he channeled his charismatic personality into television as a host and commentator, and later into business ventures.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Marc was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Marc Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Marc's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Represented New Zealand in rugby union (All Blacks) and rugby league (Kiwi), scoring a try in his first test match for the All Blacks.
- Scored a hat-trick in the 1999 NRL Grand Final while playing for the Melbourne Storm, a record for the match.
- Played a key role for the Auckland Warriors in their early NRL seasons, becoming one of the club's first major stars.
Did You Know?
His try-scoring celebration, the 'helicopter' spin, became his trademark in rugby league.
He co-hosted the popular New Zealand reality TV show 'The Bachelor NZ.'
He is a co-founder of the Better Beer brand, a successful business venture post-sports.
“You play for the jersey, not the name on the back, and you leave nothing in the tank.”
