Neil Purvis

Neil Alexander Purvis (31 January 1953 – 26 October 2008) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A second five-eighth and wing, Purvis represented Wairarapa Bush and Otago at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1976. He played 12 matches for the All Blacks including one international.^[1]

Neil Purvis

Birth name	Neil Alexander Purvis
Date of birth	(1953-01-31)31 January 1953
Place of birth	Cromwell, New Zealand
Date of death	26 October 2008(2008-10-26) (aged 55)
Place of death	Tarras, New Zealand
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Weight	83 kg (183 lb)
School	John McGlashan College
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing, second five-eighth Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1971–72 Wairarapa Bush 24 () 1973–81 Otago 56 () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1976 New Zealand 1 (0)

Purvis was also a noted breeder and owner of thoroughbred racehorses, his horse Cluden Creek winning the 2004 Wellington Cup. He farmed Cluden Station near Tarras in Central Otago, and died there in 2008 while attempting to rescue cattle from a bog.^[2]

References

1. Knight, Lindsay. "Neil Purvis". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 1 February 2015.
2. Crean, Mike (8 November 2008). "Popular Cup Week figure". The Press. p. 16.

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