Keith Murdoch (rugby union)

Last updated

Keith Murdoch
Date of birth(1943-09-09)9 September 1943
Place of birth Dunedin, New Zealand
Date of death27 February 2018(2018-02-27) (aged 74)
Place of death Carnarvon, Western Australia
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight110 kg (240 lb)
School King Edward Technical College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1964, 1967–72 Otago 43 ()
1965 Hawke's Bay 6 ()
1966 Auckland 2 ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1970–72 New Zealand 3 (4)

Keith Murdoch (9 September 1943 – 27 February 2018) was a New Zealand rugby union player.

Contents

Biography

Murdoch, a prop, played for Otago from 1964 to 1972, except for one season each for Hawke's Bay (1965) and Auckland (1966). He represented New Zealand from 1970 to 1972, playing in 27 matches for the All Blacks, including three test matches. He toured with the All Blacks to South Africa on the 1970 tour and to Great Britain and Ireland on the 1972 tour, but was troubled by injury throughout both series. [1] Murdoch had a history of unprovoked physical interactions with journalists. In 1971, he responded to a request from a New Zealand journalist for an interview by inviting him into the changing room, then holding the man under a shower until he was drenched. On the 1972 tour of Ireland and Britain , when another New Zealand journalist foiled a practical joke that Murdoch was playing, Murdoch dragged him to the floor by his scalp. [2] Murdoch also allegedly threatened a cartoonist on the same tour. [3]

1972 tour of Ireland and Britain

Murdoch's career ended controversially after he was sent home from New Zealand's tour. [4] He scored the All Blacks' only try in their 1972 win against Wales in Cardiff, but later the same night was involved in a fracas in which he punched security guard Peter Grant at the Angel Hotel. [5] He also played in famous Llanelli v New Zealand match in which the Scarlets spectacularly won 9–3. He was later sent home from the tour by All Black management, reputedly after pressure was brought to bear by the home rugby unions. [1]

However, in 2019, Moyra Pearce, the daughter of Ernie Todd who was the manager of the 1972 tour, stated that Murdoch was not – as had always been alleged – sent home for assaulting a security guard. Instead, she claimed that Murdoch threatened and chased a female member of staff at the hotel who refused to open the bar for him. Welsh police told Todd that charges would be brought on the following Monday unless Murdoch was out of the country by then. To save Murdoch from prosecution, Todd concocted the story and sent Murdoch home. [6] Bob Burgess, another New Zealand player on the tour, stated that he had never heard anything about a woman being involved, while team captain Ian Kirkpatrick stated that the claim was "news to me". [7] [8]

Although reporters waited in Auckland at the airport for his flight to arrive, he instead switched flights in Singapore on a stop-over, and flew to Perth, from where he headed into the Outback, quitting rugby forever. [9] He was always invited to All Black rugby reunions, and a chair was always left empty for him should he turn up, although he never did. To this day, whenever the All Blacks visit Cardiff, they have an informal meeting nicknamed 'The Murdoch Memorial' at the Angel Hotel. [9]

Subsequent life

New Zealand Rugby tried hard to locate him but failed: in the 50 years after his disappearance, he was only traced by journalists four times. New Zealand rugby journalist Terry McLean traced him to an oil rig near Perth in 1974, but was ignored and dismissed by Murdoch. Murdoch lived for a year in New Zealand in the mid-1970s, working as a bushman in a job organised by former All Black teammate Graham Whiting. [10]

In 1980, Murdoch was back in New Zealand, working on an Otago farm when he saved a 3-year-old child from drowning in a backyard swimming pool by providing mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. When the local newspaper heard and came to the farm to interview him, he was nowhere in sight, and subsequently moved back to Australia. [11] Margot McRae, an ABC producer, located him in Tully, a remote town in Northern Australia. When she interviewed him, he explained that leading a nomadic life and always being on the move was exactly how he wanted to live. When McRae returned the next day with a camera crew, Murdoch ran away. [2]

In 2001 Murdoch came to public attention in connection with an inquest into the death of an Aboriginal man, Christopher Kumanjai Limerick, who was found dead at an abandoned mine. The cause of death was not certain because of decomposition, but he seems to have fallen when attempting to reach water at the bottom of the mine. The coroner suspected that he may have been forcibly taken from the town of Tennant Creek and abandoned at the mine in the heat without food or water, saying that there was evidence of assault. The last time he was seen in the town was when trying to break into a house where Murdoch and others resided, and Murdoch had allegedly chased him away. Murdoch remarked after Limerick's disappearance that "I don't think he'll come back." [11]

Initially, Murdoch could not be located, but was subsequently called in as a critical witness. Police eventually tracked him down to a remote cattle station hundreds of miles away, and he came to give evidence, refusing all questions from reporters. He was criticised by the coroner for the cavalier manner in which he gave his evidence, and the coroner alleged that he was lying in order to protect himself and any associates from being charged with a crime. [12] [9] No charges were laid due to lack of evidence. [13]

Murdoch spent his last years living in the Western Australian town of Carnarvon, where he died on 27 February 2018. [14] [15] [16]

He was posthumously awarded his rugby test cap. [17] His local "drinking mates" did not know of his rugby past. [18]

Legacy

A play, Finding Murdoch by Margot McRae, which premiered in Wellington in 2007, is about McRae's tracking down of Murdoch. [19] She says of the media frenzy when he punched a security guard that "If there's a baddie it would be the media". [20] [21] Some 1972 team-mates feel guilty about not supporting him. [22]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dan Carter</span> New Zealand international rugby union player

Daniel William Carter is a New Zealand retired rugby union player. Carter played for the Crusaders in Super Rugby and for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks. He is the highest point scorer in test match rugby, and is considered by many experts as the greatest ever first five-eighth (fly-half) in the history of the game. He was named the International Rugby Board Player of the Year in 2005, 2012 and 2015.

David Edward Kirk is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He is best known for having been the captain of the All Blacks when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sonny Bill Williams</span> New Zealand rugby player

Sonny William Williams is a New Zealand heavyweight boxer, and a former professional rugby league and rugby union player. He is only the second person to represent New Zealand in rugby union after first playing for the country in rugby league, and is one of only 43 players to have won the Rugby World Cup twice.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jimmy Cowan</span> Rugby player

Quinton James Cowan is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He first played for the All Blacks – New Zealand's national team – during the 2004 tour to the United Kingdom and France, and played his last Test match for the side during the 2011 Rugby World Cup. Cowan was born in Gore and attended Gore High School. After he left school a strong season for the Mataura Rugby Club saw him selected to play provincially for the Southland Stags in 2000. He was selected for the Highlanders in the 2003 Super 12 season, and continued to play for both the Highlanders and Southland until signing for Gloucester in 2012.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ma'a Nonu</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Ma'a Allan Nonu is a professional rugby union player from New Zealand who currently plays for the San Diego Legion in Major League Rugby (MLR). He plays in the inside centre, but can also cover outside centre and wing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kelston Boys' High School</span> School

Kelston Boys' High School ("KBHS") is an all-boys state secondary school in Kelston, a suburb in the Waitakere region of Auckland, New Zealand. It was created in 1963 when the roll of Kelston High School became too large for the site on the corner of Archibald and Gt North Rds. The boys moved to a new site further down Archibald Road, leaving the original site to be the home of Kelston Girls High School.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ian Kirkpatrick</span> Rugby player

Ian Andrew Kirkpatrick is a former New Zealand rugby union player. Described as "supremely athletic, fast, fearless and with an uncanny sense of anticipation", Kirkpatrick is widely regarded as one of the greatest flankers to have ever played the game. His try-scoring ability was astonishing; at the time Kirkpatrick played rugby, it was rare for forwards to score tries, but his 16 test tries were an All Black record until Stu Wilson surpassed it in 1983. He also captained the All Blacks and was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andrew Hore</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Andrew Keith Hore is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He played for the All Blacks between 2002 and 2013. His position was hooker. He notably played for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, but also represented the Highlanders and the Crusaders. When available, he played for Taranaki in the ITM Cup, now known as the Mitre 10 Cup. Hore retired from international rugby after playing Ireland during the 2013 All Black Northern Hemisphere tour, with a total of 83 test caps to his name. In 2008 Hore received the Kelvin Tremain Trophy for Rugby player of the year. In 2011, Andrew Hore captained the All Blacks against Canada.

Keith John Robinson is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer. His usual position is at lock. He was first selected for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks in 2002. His career was plagued by injury, and he was selected into the 2006 All Blacks after making a remarkable comeback from a serious back injury. He last played against the Pacific Islanders in 2004 before making a comeback in the 2006 Autumn internationals. He made his Test debut on the All Blacks end-of-year tour in 2002 but, after three Tests, had to wait another 18 months to be recalled by Graham Henry for the Tri-Nations Tests in 2004. Robinson made a surprise return to Waikato's Air New Zealand Cup side in September 2006. In October 2007 he announced he was retiring from all rugby at the age of only 30. He cited his recurring left knee injury as the reason for his retirement.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Karam</span> New Zealand rugby player and businessman

Joseph Francis Karam, also known by the nickname of "Clock", is a New Zealand former representative rugby footballer who played for the All Blacks. After retiring from rugby, he became a businessman. However, he is most notable for waging a successful 15-year campaign to have David Bain's convictions for murder overturned, and a subsequent campaign seeking compensation for him.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Zac Guildford</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Zachary Robert Guildford is a retired New Zealand professional rugby union player who played as a wing most notably for National Provincial Championship club Hawke's Bay and the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Smith (rugby union)</span> New Zealand rugby union player, born 1986

Benjamin Robert Smith is a retired New Zealand rugby union player, currently working for Super Rugby side Highlanders' management team. He formerly played for the Highlanders in the Super Rugby competition, Otago in the ITM Cup, Pau in the Top 14 and Kobelco Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Julian Savea</span> Rugby player

Sio Julian Savea is a New Zealand professional rugby union player. He currently plays Wing or Centre for Wellington in the National Provincial Championship and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Savea formerly played for Toulon in the Top 14 and the Hurricanes in Super Rugby. Between 2012 and 2017, he won 54 caps for New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aaron Smith (rugby union)</span> Former NZ international rugby union player

Aaron Luke Smith is a New Zealand professional rugby union player. A scrum half, Smith played for the Highlanders in Super Rugby where upon retirement in 2023 was the club's all time leader in caps, and for Manawatu in the ITM Cup. He has won 124 caps for New Zealand and is their 2nd most-capped back after Beauden Barrett.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Beauden Barrett</span> New Zealand rugby union player (born 1991)

Beauden John Barrett is a New Zealand professional rugby union player who play as a fly half for Japan Rugby League One club Toyota Verblitz and for the New Zealand national team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brodie Retallick</span> NZ international rugby union player

Brodie Allan Retallick is a New Zealand rugby union footballer, who currently plays as a lock for Kobelco Kobe Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One competition. He previously played for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's National Provincial Championship.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dane Coles</span> Rugby player

Dane Stuart Coles is a former New Zealand rugby union player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ardie Savea</span> Rugby player

Ardie Suemalo Savea is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays as a flanker or number 8 for Wellington in the National Provincial Championship and Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. Internationally, he plays for the New Zealand All Blacks. Savea was a member of New Zealand's 2019 Rugby World Cup squad and 2023 Rugby World Cup squad. He was named the 2023 World Rugby Player of the Year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom French Cup</span>

In rugby union, the Tom French Cup is an honour awarded by New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) to the Tom French Memorial Māori player of the year. The cup has been awarded annually since 1949, when it was donated to the New Zealand Māori coach Tom French while the team was on tour in Australia. French had represented Buller provincially, and was selected for New Zealand Maori in 1911. After the First World War, where he lost an arm at Passchendaele, French continued his involvement in rugby by serving as both a selector and administrator. In 1957 he was made a life member of the NZRU.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tom Barrass</span> Australian rules footballer

Thomas Donald Barrass is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). He has played as a key defender since his junior career with Claremont. Barrass was drafted by West Coast with pick 43 of the 2013 national draft, but did not make his senior debut until round 17 of the 2015 AFL season. He was nominated for the 2016 AFL Rising Star and won a premiership with West Coast in 2018.

References

  1. 1 2 Knight, Lindsay. "Keith Murdoch". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  2. 1 2 "Former All Blacks prop Keith Murdoch was a boy in a big man's body". 31 March 2018.
  3. ↑ "Keith Murdoch rampage allegations emerge in All Blacks manager's 'deathbed confession'". 20 May 2019.
  4. ↑ Richards, Huw (11 April 2018). "Keith Murdoch, Rugby Bruiser Who Vanished in the Outback, Is Dead at 74". The New York Times . p. A24. Retrieved 16 April 2018.
  5. ↑ Robinson, Georgina (21 October 2011). "The Murdoch myth: All Blacks legend lives life of a recluse after infamous punch". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  6. ↑ "New revelation: Infamous All Black history turned on head". NZ Herald. 22 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "Keith Murdoch assault on woman 'real' reason for tour eviction, manager's daughter says". 15 May 2019.
  8. ↑ "Ian Kirkpatrick surprised by new Keith Murdoch allegations". Radio New Zealand . 16 May 2019.
  9. 1 2 3 Hughes, Roland (8 April 2018). "Obituary: The disgraced rugby star who disappeared". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  10. ↑ "Keith Murdoch spent a year living under the radar in NZ". Stuff . 18 April 2018.
  11. 1 2 "Obituary: Keith Murdoch, the disgraced All Black who disappeared". BBC News. 8 April 2018.
  12. ↑ "CITATION: Inquest into the death of Christopher Limerick [2001] NTMC 70" (PDF). Justice.nt.gov.au. Retrieved 23 April 2018.
  13. ↑ "Police clear former All Black of charges over death of burglar". The Age. 23 August 2002. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  14. ↑ Barraclough, Breanna; Coombe, Gemma (30 March 2018). "Former All Black Keith Murdoch dies aged 74". Newshub. Retrieved 30 March 2018.
  15. ↑ Barrass, Tony (14 July 2018). "The Keith Murdoch mystery: How a New Zealand rugby outcast lived out his secretive last years in WA". The Sunday Times . Perth. Retrieved 15 July 2018.
  16. ↑ Barrass, Tony (15 July 2018). "Finding Keith Murdoch, the All Black who never wanted to be found". Wales Online. Retrieved 18 July 2018.
  17. ↑ "All Black Keith Murdoch posthumously issued with his test cap". Stuff (Fairfax). 17 April 2018.
  18. ↑ "Keith Murdoch's drinking mates never twigged to his All Black past". Stuff (Fairfax). 19 July 2018.
  19. ↑ "Actor drawing on own sporting background for Murdoch role". The New Zealand Herald. 26 June 2008. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  20. ↑ Lowe, Robert (7 October 2005). "Disgraced All Black 'heroic' in dignified silence". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
  21. ↑ "Suspended Dunedin news reader on assault charge, Craig Storey, prompts All Black play postponement". Stuff. Stuff (Fairfax). 15 June 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2021.
  22. ↑ "Teammates still feel guilt over Keith Murdoch (has photo of actor as Murdoch)". Stuff (Fairfax). 22 October 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.