Initially playing his club rugby with Napier Tech Old Boys, it wasn't long before Mark was drafted into the Hawks Bay provincial side where he mixed it up with some of the best rugby professionals on the planet. After he was drafted into the provincial side in 2015, Cracker was a regular starter for the Hawks Bay Magpies in the ITM Cup Competition alongside All Black legends Israel Dagg and Brodie Retallick.

At Colchester, Cracker spent most of his time in the back row, however all this changed when he moved to the Southern Hemisphere. At Napier Old Techs, Cracker made one of the toughest transitions in rugby - he moved from the back row into prop and never looked back. Requiring an altogether different set of skills, Cracker made an immediate impact in club rugby for Napier Tech and soon caught the eye of the provincial selectors. What makes this transition even more remarkable is that Cracker achieved these heights in one of the harshest rugby environments in the world; it was an incredible achievement and typical of Cracker and his determined approach to the game. Cracker spent five consecutive seasons in the Hawks Bay squad, but 2018 will undoubtedly go down as his defining season; where he was a regular starter for the Magpies and he also registered two tries.

As a Colchester player, Braidwood was renowned for his strength, determination and physicality. A number of our current 1st XV regulars cut their senior rugby teeth under his tutelage and benefited greatly from his inspiration and experience. Cracker was a leader on and off the pitch and he will undoubtedly go down in history as one of our greatest; one of only a handful of Colchester players to play at the very highest level of world rugby. Enjoy your retirement Cracker, we wish you and your family every happiness and as a club we are incredibly proud to know that you once wore our colours.