Mark Bakewell

Bakewell was born in Christchurch, New Zealand,[1] and began playing rugby aged four before moving to Australia at seven.[2] He played around 400 games for Eastern Suburbs in Sydney at prop and in the backrow.[3] In 1996 he became an Australian citizen.[2]

Bakewell began his coaching career at Eastern Suburbs, his old club, as a forwards and strength and conditioning coach in 1995.[2] In 1997 he worked with Australia as their fitness coach[4] and became head coach of Easter Suburbs in 1999 and was named New South Wales coach of the year in 2000.[3] In 2001 he joined CA Brive as head coach in France's Pro D2,[4] he led them to promotion in 2003 but then left following a contract dispute to join AS Béziers.[3]

Following three seasons with Béziers Bakewell joined Bath in July 2006 as forwards coach under Steve Meehan.[5] He has described the three years he spent at Bath as his favourite job,[3] with Bath finishing in the title play off positions in both 2008 and 2009. He later returned to Australia to be forwards coach to the Melbourne Rebels in Super Rugby.[3]

In 2012 he joined Tonga as forwards coach and was part of the coaching team when Tonga beat Scotland in Scotland. In 2014 he returned to Eastern Suburbs as head coach[6] but quickly moved on in April to Japan joining Suntory Sungoliath.[7][2] After a season in Japan, In February 2016, Bakewell returned to England to replace Steve Borthwick at Bristol in England's second division.[8] While at Bristol Bakewell saw the side promoted in 2016 but then relegated from Premiership Rugby the following year.

On 14 February 2018 Bakewell joined Leicester Tigers to work as forwards coach under fellow Australian Matt O'Connor.[9]

BBC Radio Leicester reported that Bakewell has left his role on 10 December 2019,[10] with the club eventually confirming his departure on 18 December.[11]