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