Murray Pierce

Born in Timaru, Murray Pierce was educated at Waitaki Boys, Roxburgh District and Dunstan High Schools. He played club rugby in Roxburgh before moving to Wellington. Serving with the New Zealand Police his initial first class rugby was for New Zealand Combined Services, appearing in all four matches on their tour of the Seddon Shield Districts in 1980.

Playing for the Wellington club Pierce first represented Wellington in 1982, had a fine game in Wellington’s Ranfurly Shield challenge against Canterbury the following year, played in New Zealand trials in 1984 and was that season selected for the All Black tours of Australia and Fiji.

His test debut came against England in 1985, when he also played against Australia. He was chosen for the cancelled tour of South Africa and went on the replacement tour to Argentina instead.

Murray Pierce was one of the All Blacks on the unauthorised Cavaliers tour to South Africa in 1986, and regained his All Black test place when the Cavaliers again became eligible for selection. He played in two tests against Australia and both tests on tour against France.

An automatic choice for the 1987 World Cup Pierce played in five of the six matches, including the final, but missed the tour to Japan at the end of the season.

After appearing in all twelve test matches in 1988 and 1989 he moved briefly to South Africa in 1990 but returned to New Zealand midway through the season. He regained his place in the New Zealand side to France that season but was not required for the two test matches.

With a playing weight of 107 kilos and 1.98 tall Pierce was a noted lineout ball winner and was one of the strengths of the formidable All Black team that dominated World Rugby in the late 1980s.