Rick Muru

Wiremu Hira Muru (1950/1951 – 15 May 2020), commonly known as Rick Muru, was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand.^[2]

Rick Muru

Personal information
Full name	Wiremu Hira Muru^[1]
Born	1950/1951 New Zealand
Died	15 May 2020 (aged 69) Huntly, New Zealand
Playing information
Weight	115 kg (254 lb; 18 st 2 lb)
Position	Prop
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P Taniwharau Representative Years Team Pld T G FG P Waikato 1975–77 New Zealand Māori 1980–81 New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0
Source: ^[2]

Playing career

From Huntly, Muru played for the Taniwharau Rugby League Club in the Waikato Rugby League competition and represented Waikato. He also played for New Zealand Māori, including at the 1975 and 1977 Pacific Cups.

In 1980 Muru was selected to play for the New Zealand national rugby league team on their tour of Great Britain and France. He played in 5 games, scoring one try, but did not play in any of the test matches.^{[citation needed]}

Later years

Muru was a member of the Tainui tribe and was a nephew of Robert Mahuta. Muru served as the chairman of the Waahi Marae Committee and was a board member of the Auckland Warriors when Tainui controlled the club.^[3][4]

In 2015, he was named at prop in Taniwharau's team of their first 70 years.^[5]

Muru died at Waahi Pā, Huntly, on 15 May 2020, aged 69.^[6][7]

References

1. MURU, Wiremu Hira (Rick) (1980) nzleague.co.nz
2. "Statistics at rugbyleagueproject.org". rugbyleagueproject.org. 31 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
3. Tainui elite 'acting in own interests' New Zealand Herald, 27 July 2000
4. Tainui asserts Maori pride in face of Lowe's criticism New Zealand Herald, 2 March 2000
5. AARON GOILE (3 February 2015). "Lance Hohaia named Taniwharau rugby league club's best". Stuff.
6. "Wiremu Muru death notice". New Zealand Herald. 20 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.
7. "The passing of Rick Muru". New Zealand Rugby League. 18 May 2020. Retrieved 20 May 2020.