Keith Murdoch (rugby union)

Career

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 in 1970 and to Great Britain and Ireland in 1972, but was troubled by injury throughout both series.

Murdoch's career ended controversially after he was sent home from tour. 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. 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. Rather than returning to rugby in New Zealand, Murdoch moved to the Australian outback where he has lived ever since.

Murdoch was well-respected by his fellow All Blacks and players. Although the media like to portray him as hard man, in 1980 he was back in New Zealand, living with friends, when he saved a child from drowning in a backyard swimming pool. He is well known to be a very private and media shy individual.

In 2001 Murdoch came to public attention in connection with an inquest into the death of an Aboriginal man, Christopher Kumanjai Limerick. Limerick 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. The last time he was seen in the town was apparently when trying to break into a house where Murdoch and others resided. No charges were laid due to lack of evidence.

A play, Finding Murdoch by Margot McRae, which premiered at Downstage Theatre, Wellington in 2007, is about McRae's tracking down of Murdoch. She says of the media frenzy when he punched a security guard that "If there's a baddie it would be the media".