Ray Harper (rugby union)

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Raymond Aubrey Ian Harper QSO QSM (19 July 1927 – 4 April 2019) was a New Zealand rugby union player, administrator and manager.[1][2]

Early life and family[edit]

Born in Invercargill on 19 July 1927, Harper was the son of Arthur and Bertha Harper.[3] He was educated at Waitaki Boys' High School.[3] In 1953, he married Natalie Winifred Thomas, and the couple went on to have two daughters,[3] one of whom married rugby writer Bob Howitt.[4]

Sporting career[edit]

Rugby union player[edit]

Harper represented Southland as a player for seven years.[3]

Administrator[edit]

Harper was a life member of the Southland Rugby Union, serving as an administrator of the union for 24 years, and representing Southland on the NZRFU council from 1974 to 1987.[5] Harper was involved in the planning for the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987,[5] and was a tour manager for the Junior All Blacks on three tours.[2] He managed the All Blacks on their 1980 tours to Australia and Fiji and North America and Wales.[5]

Harper was a driving force behind the inauguration of Stadium Southland, Invercargill's all-weather sports venue.[5]

Death[edit]

Harper died in Invercargill from bone cancer on 4 April 2019, aged 91 years.[5][6]

Honours and awards[edit]

In the 1991 Queen's Birthday Honours, Harper was awarded the Queen's Service Medal for community service.[7] In the 2004 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Companion of the Queen's Service Order, also for community service.[8]

Harper was awarded the Steinlager Salver award for exceptional contributions to New Zealand rugby at the 2012 Steinlager New Zealand Rugby Awards.[2][5]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Southland rugby legend Ray Harper has died". What's On Invers. 4 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  2. ^ a b c "Winners of 2012 Steinlager Rugby Awards announced". All Blacks. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  3. ^ a b c d Taylor, Alister; Coddington, Deborah (1994). Honoured by the Queen – New Zealand. Auckland: New Zealand Who's Who Aotearoa. p. 172. ISBN 0-908578-34-2.
  4. ^ Williams, Guy (4 February 2017). "Long read: Wrapping up a life of rugby yarns". Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Savory, Logan (4 April 2019). "Stadium Southland instigator Ray Harper has died". The Southland Times. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  6. ^ "Harper, Raymond Aubrey Ian (Ray), QSM, QSO". The Southland Times. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 5 April 2019.
  7. ^ "No. 52564". The London Gazette (2nd supplement). 15 June 1991. p. 31.
  8. ^ "Queen's Birthday honours list 2004". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 7 June 2004. Retrieved 5 April 2019.


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