View source for Mark Cueto

{{short description|British Lions & England international rugby union footballers}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2020}}
{{Infobox rugby biography
| name            = Mark Cueto <br/> [[Order of the British Empire|MBE]]
| image           = Mark Cueto 2013 (cropped).jpg
| caption         = Cueto in 2013
| birth_name      = Mark John Cueto
| birth_date      = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1979|12|26}}
| birth_place     = [[Workington]], Cumbria, England
| height          = {{convert|6|ft|0|in|m|abbr=on}}
| weight          = {{convert|15|st|0|lb|kg|abbr=on}} <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rfu.com/SquadsAndPlayers/EnglandElite/MarkCueto.aspx |title=RFU Official Site of the RFU, Governing Body of Rugby Union in England |work=web page |publisher=Rugby Football Union|access-date=23 August 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726171613/http://www.rfu.com/SquadsAndPlayers/EnglandElite/MarkCueto.aspx |archive-date=26 July 2011 }}</ref>
| school          = [[St Thomas More Catholic School, Crewe|St. Thomas More School]]<br/>[[Alsager School|Alsager Comprehensive]]
| university      = [[Manchester Metropolitan University]]
| position        = [[Wing (rugby union)|Wing]], [[Fullback (rugby union)|Full-back]]
| amatyears1      = 1996-1997
| amatyears2      = 1997–1998
| amatyears3      = 1998–2001
| amatteam1       = Crewe & Nantwich RUFC
| amatteam2       = [[Sandbach RUFC]]
| amatteam3       = [[Altrincham Kersal]]
| years1          = 2001–2015
| clubs1          = [[Sale Sharks]]
| points1         = 590
| apps1           = 303
| ru_clubupdate   = 27 March 2015
| repyears1       = 2002–2004
| repyears2       = 2004–2011
| repyears3       = [[2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand|2005]]
| repteam1        = [[England Saxons|England A]]
| repteam2        = [[England national rugby union team|England]]
| repteam3        = [[British & Irish Lions]]
| repsevenscomp1  = [[Hong Kong Sevens|Hong Kong]]
| repsevensyears1 = 2001
| repsevensteam1  = [[England national rugby sevens team|England Sevens]]
| repcaps1        =
| repcaps2        = 55
| repcaps3        = 1
| reppoints1      = 
| reppoints2      = 100
| reppoints3      = 0
| ru_ntupdate     = 31 March 2012
}}

'''Mark John Cueto''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 26 December 1979 in [[Workington]], Cumbria) is a former [[England national rugby union team|English international]] [[rugby union]] player. He played on the [[Wing (rugby union)|wing]] for [[Sale Sharks]] and [[England national rugby union team|England]]. He is currently the third leading try scorer in the [[English Premiership (rugby union)|Aviva Premiership]].

On 28 January 2015, it was announced Cueto was to retire at the end of the [[2014–15 English Premiership (rugby union)|2014-15 season]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/rugby-union/30082489|title=Mark Cueto: Sale Sharks and ex-England winger to retire|work=BBC Sport|date=28 January 2015}}</ref>

==Biography==
Mark Cueto was born to Frank and Anne Cueto. He has a sister called Rachel. He owes his surname to his Spanish great-grandfather, Antonio, who sailed from [[Santander, Cantabria|Santander]] in the 1900s and settled in [[Maryport]], Cumbria, where he set up a fish-and-chip shop.<ref name="Rugby Union: Making his Mark">{{cite news|url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/article404079.ece?token=null&offset=0&page=1|title=Rugby Union: Making his Mark|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=19 December 2004|access-date=5 August 2010 | location=London | first=David | last=Walsh}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> His Cumbrian home town of [[Workington]] is in an area more associated with [[rugby league]] than union. Although he played his first rugby game as an eight-year-old in [[Workington]], and played after he moved with his parents to [[Wolverhampton]], he did not grow up playing the game. When he was 10 years old, his parents moved again to [[Crewe]], where he took up [[association football|football]] instead of rugby, becoming a keen Manchester United fan.<ref name="Cueto eyes Old Trafford debut">{{cite news|url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid=%7B48C41513%2DA376%2D4D1F%2D981D%2D660FC5BB193E%7D&newsid=6633886|title=Cueto eyes Old Trafford debut|publisher=Manchester United official Website|date=4 June 2009|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> He did not play rugby again until he was 17. His early clubs were [[Crewe & Nantwich RUFC]],  [[Sandbach RUFC]] and [[Altrincham Kersal]], with the latter he won the [[Cheshire RFU Plate]] in 1998.

Then, when he was 17 and in his final A-level year at [[Alsager School|Alsager Comprehensive]], there was the annual rugby match against Holmes Chapel. It was an occasion of no great importance. Holmes Chapel had a reasonable team, but rugby players were thin on the ground at Alsager and there was not much debate about the likely result. To make up a team, Alsager teacher Lindsay Purcell recruited a number of footballers. Cueto was one of those press-ganged into service, though when it came to sport he was easily persuaded. Football was number one but he had also done athletics, basketball, volleyball and cricket.<ref name="Rugby Union: Making his Mark"/>

Cueto is married to Suzie (née Richards), originally from Corby in Northamptonshire, who works in the Manchester United FC hospitality department. She gave birth to a baby boy called Max, their first child, on 6 August 2010. The couple have two more sons called Louis (b. 2013) and Joshua (b. 2018). They live together in Altrincham. He is a graduate of [[Manchester Metropolitan University]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mmu.ac.uk/alumni/notable.php?a=4 |title=Notable Alumni in Sport |publisher=Manchester Metropolitan University |access-date=24 November 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100412132928/http://www.mmu.ac.uk/alumni/notable.php?a=4 |archive-date=12 April 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

In 2009, Cueto was featured in a campaign of male underwear for [[Jockey International]]. He also appeared as a guest in two episodes of the quiz show ''[[A Question of Sport]]'' in 2005.{{cn|date=June 2025}}

==Career==
===Sale Sharks===
Cueto made his début for [[Sale Sharks]] against [[Bristol Rugby|Bristol Shoguns]] in 2001 and made the [[2002 England rugby union tour of Argentina|England tour to Argentina in 2002]],<ref name="England pick young squad">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/2011141.stm|title=England pick young squad|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=28 May 2002|access-date=12 December 2009}}</ref> playing against [[Argentina Jaguars national rugby union team|Argentina A]].<ref name="Quesada kicks England to defeat">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/2048186.stm|title=Quesada kicks England to defeat|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=17 June 2002|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref>

Cueto saw success at club level in his first five years at the club, winning the [[European Challenge Cup]] twice, first in 2002 when Sale beat [[Pontypridd RFC|Pontypridd]] 25–22 at the [[Kassam Stadium]] on 26 May 2002.<ref name="Sale claim Shield glory">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/european/2009425.stm|title=Sale claim Shield glory|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=26 May 2002|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> He was also part of the Sale team that beat [[Section Paloise|Pau]], the champions in 2000, by 27 points to 3, also at the Kassam Stadium on 21 May 2005. Cueto scored a [[Try (rugby)|try]] in the victory.<ref name="Pau 3-27 Sale">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/european/4563891.stm|title=Pau 3–27 Sale|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=21 May 2005|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> He had his best individual season in [[2004–05 Zurich Premiership|2004–05]], scoring 11 tries in just 18 games played. Cueto helped Sale Sharks to top the league in the [[2005–06 Guinness Premiership|2005–06 season]] and carry that form through to win the season ending play-offs, scoring a try as they beat [[Leicester Tigers]] in the final, to become [[English Premiership (rugby union)|Premiership]] champions for the first time.<ref name="Sale 45-20 Leicester">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/5009064.stm|title=Sale 45–20 Leicester|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=27 May 2006|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref>

In May 2010, Cueto was voted into Sale Shark's Hall of Fame.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://menmedia.co.uk/heywoodadvertiser/sport/rugby_union/s/1238686_brewer_wants_a_vote_on_fridays|title=Brewer wants a vote on Fridays|newspaper=[[Manchester Evening News]]|date=4 May 2010|access-date=30 November 2010}}</ref> He played his 150th match for Sale in their 54–21 defeat to Leicester in late December 2010.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/english/9309721.stm |title=Leicester Tigers 54–21 Sale Sharks |work=BBC Sport |date=27 December 2010 |access-date=27 December 2010}}</ref> A few days later, Cueto was appointed club captain by the new coach [[Pete Anglesea]];<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/sale/9326182.stm |title=Winger Mark Cueto given Sale Sharks captaincy |work=BBC Sport |date=29 December 2010 |access-date=31 December 2010}}</ref> Anglesea replaced [[Mike Brewer (rugby)|Mike Brewer]] as Sale had won just three out of nine matches in the 2010–11 season by mid-December.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/my_club/sale/9317919.stm |title=Sale Sharks sack head coach Mike Brewer |work=BBC Sport |date=23 December 2010 |access-date=23 December 2010}}</ref> Cueto was Sale's sixth captain of the season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/sport/rugby_union/s/1403911_anglesea_looks_to_sale_old_boys |first=Neil |last=Leigh |title=Anglesea looks to Sale old boys |newspaper=[[Manchester Evening News]] |date=28 December 2010 |access-date=31 December 2010}}</ref> In April, Cueto was banned by the [[Rugby Football Union]] for nine weeks after pleading guilty to "making contact with the eye or eye area". The incident involved [[Christian Day]] and occurred in a match against Northampton on 2 April.<ref>{{citation |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/9448900.stm |title=England & Sale winger Mark Cueto given nine-week ban |work=BBC Sport|date=11 April 2011 |access-date=2011-04-22}}</ref> At the start of the 2011–12 season, in August, Cueto was replaced as Sale captain, with [[Sam Tuitupou]] taking over role.<ref>{{citation |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/14526963.stm |title=Sam Tuitupou appointed Sale Sharks captain |work=BBC Sport|date=15 August 2011 |access-date=2011-09-03}}</ref>

On 8 February 2013 Cueto broke the Premiership try scoring record of 75 by [[Steve Hanley (rugby union)|Steve Hanley]], touching down for his 76th try in a 21-16 comeback win over [[Exeter Chiefs|Exeter]].<ref>{{citation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2013/feb/08/sale-exeter-mark-cueto |title=Mark Cueto breaks Premiership try record in Sale's win over Exeter |work=The Guardian|date=8 February 2013 |access-date=24 February 2014}}</ref> He eventually retired in 2015 after having scored a then record 90 tries. His record was broken on 10 February 2017 by Bristol's wing [[Tom Varndell]].

Cueto was appointed [[Member of the Order of the British Empire]] (MBE) in the [[2016 New Year Honours]] for services to rugby union.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=61450 |supp=y|page=N18|date=30 December 2015}}</ref>

===International===
Cueto represented [[England national rugby sevens team|England]] in the [[2000–01 World Sevens Series]].<ref name="England squad for Hong Kong">{{cite news|url=http://www.scrum.com/scrum/rugby/story/35783.html|title=England squad for Hong Kong|work=ESPN Scrum|date=27 March 2001|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> Cueto appears alongside [[All Blacks]] captain [[Richie McCaw]] on the cover of the United Kingdom version of the [[EA Sports]] game ''[[Rugby 08]]''.

He was not selected for the full England squad during [[Clive Woodward]]'s time as head coach, having to wait until November 2004 for his début against [[Canada national rugby union team|Canada]] at [[Twickenham Stadium|Twickenham]], when he scored two tries.<ref name="England 70-0 Canada">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4004633.stm|title=England 70–0 Canada|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=13 November 2004|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> He would play for England up until 2011, scoring 20 tries, at the time the 7th most try scored for his Country.

In 2005, he was called up to the [[British & Irish Lions]] for their [[2005 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand|New Zealand tour]] after original selection [[Iain Balshaw]] was ruled out due to injury.<ref name="Lions replace Balshaw with Cueto">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/4555479.stm|title=Lions replace Balshaw with Cueto|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=17 May 2005|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> He featured in the third [[Test match (rugby union)|Test]] at [[Eden Park|Eden Park, Auckland]].<ref name="New Zealand 38-19 Lions">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/international/lions_in_nz/4661347.stm|title=New Zealand 38–19 Lions|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=9 July 2005|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> The same year he was the top try scorer in the [[2005 Six Nations Championship|2005 Six Nations]] with 4.

Cueto was a prominent member of England's [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007 Rugby World Cup in France]]. He started the first match of England's defence of the title at [[Fullback (rugby union)|Full-back]] against the [[USA national rugby union team|USA]]. He also played in England's embarrassing 36–0 defeat to [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]. Having been dropped for the next match against Samoa, he was installed to the English defence for the encounter with [[Tonga national rugby union team|Tonga]], which ensured England's progression through to the quarter-final stage. He was left out of the surprise quarter-final victory against [[Australia national rugby union team|Australia]] and the even more surprising semi-final victory over [[France national rugby union team|France]] due to a niggling injury. During the semi-final, England wing [[Josh Lewsey]] suffered a pulled hamstring and was forced to miss the final.

Cueto was selected to take his place for the [[2007 Rugby World Cup Final|2007 final]] against previous pool opponents, [[South Africa national rugby union team|South Africa]]. His participation in the match became memorable when he was denied a try in the second half of the match by Australian television match official [[Stuart Dickinson]].  After a great deal of deliberation over real-time footage (and facing a language barrier with a French television producer who did not provide the stills he wanted) Dickinson disallowed the try on the basis of Cueto's left foot entering touch (touching the side-line) before the ball was grounded.  This was not immediately obvious and Cueto's left leg was subsequently raised within the boundary of play, travelling over it after the ball was on the ground; this led many to believe the judgement had been wrongly made on the basis of the latter movement. A division of opinion still exists, although most experts including [[BBC Radio 5 Live]] presenter [[Ian Robertson (rugby commentator)|Ian Robertson]] subsequently backed Dickinson's decision.<ref name="Video ref happy with Cueto ruling">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7055964.stm|title=Video ref happy with Cueto ruling|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=22 October 2007|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref>

He did not feature for England throughout 2008, but was recalled to the squad for the [[2009 Six Nations Championship|2009 Six Nations]], scoring a try in the opening game against [[Italy national rugby union team|Italy]]<ref name="England 36-11 Italy">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7873600.stm|title=England 36–11 Italy |work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=7 February 2009|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref> and in England's 34–10 victory over [[France national rugby union team|France]].<ref name="England 34-10 France">{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/rugby_union/7941972.stm|title=England 34–10 France|work=[[BBC Sport]]|date=15 March 2009|access-date=5 August 2010}}</ref>

Cueto was a regular for [[England national rugby union team|England]] throughout 2010 and 2011, and contributed to [[England national rugby union team|England]]'s successful [[2011 Six Nations Championship|2011 Six Nations]] campaign. Cueto won his 50th cap for [[England national rugby union team|England]] in the final match of the [[2011 Six Nations Championship|Six Nations]] against [[Ireland national rugby union team|Ireland]]. Cueto missed the first 2 games of the 2011 Rugby World cup in New Zealand due to a back injury, but completed a hat-trick of tries when returning to the starting line up against Romania.

=== International tries ===
<ref>{{Cite web|title=Mark John Cueto|url=http://www.espnscrum.com/england/rugby/player/14268.html|access-date=2021-11-22|website=ESPN scrum}}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size:100%"
!Try
!Opposing team
!scope="col" style="min-width: 200px; max-width: 1000px;"  |Location
!Venue
!Competition
!Date
!Result
!scope="col" style="min-width: 60px; max-width: 300px;" |Score
|-
|1
| rowspan="2" |{{ru|CAN}}
| rowspan="2" |[[London]], [[England]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Twickenham Stadium]]
| rowspan="2" |[[2004 end-of-year rugby union internationals]]
| rowspan="2" |13 November 2004
| rowspan="2" |Win
| rowspan="2" |'''70''' – 0
|-
|2
|-
|3
|{{ru|RSA}}
|[[London]], [[England]]
|[[Twickenham Stadium]]
|[[2004 end-of-year rugby union internationals]]
|20 November 2004
|Win
|'''32''' – 16
|-
|4
|{{ru|AUS}}
|[[London]], [[England]]
|[[Twickenham Stadium]]
|[[2004 end-of-year rugby union internationals]]
|27 November 2004
|Loss
|'''19''' – 21
|-
|5
| rowspan="3" |{{ru|ITA}}
| rowspan="3" |[[London]], [[England]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Twickenham Stadium]]
| rowspan="3" |[[2005 Six Nations Championship]]
| rowspan="3" |12 March 2005
| rowspan="3" |Win
| rowspan="3" |'''39''' – 7
|-
|6
|-
|7
|-
|8
|{{ru|SCO}}
|[[London]], [[England]]
|[[Twickenham Stadium]]
|[[2005 Six Nations Championship]]
|19 March 2005
|Win
|'''43''' – 22
|-
|9
|{{ru|AUS}}
|[[London]], [[England]]
|[[Twickenham Stadium]]
|[[2005 end-of-year rugby union internationals]]
|12 November 2005
|Win
|'''26''' – 16
|-
|10
|{{ru|WAL}}
|[[London]], [[England]]
|[[Twickenham Stadium]]
|[[2006 Six Nations Championship]]
|4 February 2006
|Win
|'''47''' – 13
|-
|11
|{{ru|ITA}}
|[[Rome]], [[Italy]]
|[[Stadio Flaminio]]
|[[2006 Six Nations Championship]]
|11 February 2006
|Win
|16 – '''31'''
|-
|12
|{{ru|RSA}}
|[[London]], [[England]]
|[[Twickenham Stadium]]
|[[2006 South Africa rugby union tour of Ireland and England]]
|18 November 2006
|Win
|'''23''' – 21
|-
|13
|{{ru|RSA}}
|[[London]], [[England]]
|[[Twickenham Stadium]]
|[[2006 South Africa rugby union tour of Ireland and England]]
|25 November 2006
|Loss
|'''14''' – 25
|-
|14
|{{ru|ITA}}
|[[London]], [[England]]
|[[Twickenham Stadium]]
|[[2009 Six Nations Championship]]
|7 February 2009
|Win
|'''36''' – 11
|-
|15
|{{ru|FRA}}
|[[London]], [[England]]
|[[Twickenham Stadium]]
|[[2009 Six Nations Championship]]
|15 March 2009
|Win
|'''34''' – 10
|-
|16
|{{ru|ITA}}
|[[London]], [[England]]
|[[Twickenham Stadium]]
|[[2011 Six Nations Championship]]
|12 February 2011
|Win
|'''59''' – 13
|-
|17
| rowspan="3" |{{ru|ROM}}
| rowspan="3" |[[Dunedin]], [[New Zealand]]
| rowspan="3" |[[Otago Stadium]]
| rowspan="3" |[[2011 Rugby World Cup]]
| rowspan="3" |24 September 2011
| rowspan="3" |Win
| rowspan="3" |'''67''' – 3
|-
|18
|-
|19
|-
|20
|{{ru|FRA}}
|[[Auckland]], [[New Zealand]]
|[[Eden Park]]
|[[2011 Rugby World Cup]]
|8 October 2011
|Loss
|'''12''' – 19
|}

== Honours ==

===Sale Sharks===
*'''[[Premiership Rugby|English Premiership]]'''
**'''Champions (1): [[2005–06 Premiership Rugby|2005–06]]'''
*'''[[European Challenge Cup]]'''
**'''Champions (2): [[2001–02 European Challenge Cup|2001–02]], [[2004–05 European Challenge Cup|2004–05]]'''
*'''[[Anglo-Welsh Cup]]'''
**''Runners-up (2): [[2003–04 Powergen Cup|2003–04]], [[2012–13 LV Cup|2012–13]]''

===England===
*'''[[Six Nations Championship]]'''
**'''Champions (1): [[2011 Six Nations Championship|2011]]'''
*'''[[Rugby World Cup]]'''
**''Runners-up (1): [[2007 Rugby World Cup|2007]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|40em}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20110726171613/http://www.rfu.com/SquadsAndPlayers/EnglandElite/MarkCueto.aspx Official England Rugby profile]
* [http://www.salesharks.com/rugby/matchcentre/sharks.php?player=4500&includeref=dynamic Player profile on Sale website]
* [http://www.sporting-heroes.net/rugby-heroes/displayhero.asp?HeroID=5909 Mark Cueto photo by sportingheroes.net]

{{England 2011 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{England 2007 Rugby World Cup squad}}
{{British and Irish Lions 2005}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cueto, Mark}}
[[Category:1979 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Alumni of Manchester Metropolitan University]]
[[Category:British & Irish Lions rugby union players from England]]
[[Category:England international rugby union players]]
[[Category:English people of Spanish descent]]
[[Category:English rugby union players]]
[[Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire]]
[[Category:Rugby union fullbacks]]
[[Category:Rugby union players from Workington]]
[[Category:Rugby union wings]]
[[Category:Sale Sharks players]]
[[Category:2007 Rugby World Cup players]]
[[Category:2011 Rugby World Cup players]]