Roy Roper

Roy Alfred Roper (11 August 1923 – 14 September 2023) was a New Zealand rugby union player. A three-quarter, Roper represented Taranaki at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, from 1949 to 1950. He played five matches for the All Blacks, all of them internationals. He later served as treasurer of the Taranaki Rugby Football Union from 1952 to 1971.^[1]

Roy Roper

Roper in 1946
Birth name	Roy Alfred Roper
Date of birth	(1923-08-11)11 August 1923
Place of birth	Ōwhango, New Zealand
Date of death	14 September 2023(2023-09-14) (aged 100)
Place of death	New Plymouth, New Zealand
Height	1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Weight	72 kg (159 lb)
School	New Plymouth Boys' High School
Rugby union career
Position(s) Three-quarter Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1946–1950 Taranaki () International career Years Team Apps (Points) 1949–1950 New Zealand 5 (9)

During World War II, Roper served overseas with the Royal New Zealand Navy and appeared in six matches for the New Zealand Services XV in England.^[1]

With the death of Ron Elvidge in 2019, Roper became the oldest living All Black. He celebrated his 100th birthday on 11 August 2023, becoming the first former All Black to reach that milestone.^[2] Roper died a month later, on 14 September.^[3]

References

1. Luxford, Bob. "Roy Roper". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 30 May 2015.
2. Reid, Neil (11 August 2023). "Many happy returns: Oldest living All Black Roy Roper celebrates his 100th birthday". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 11 August 2023.
3. Harvey, Helen. "Oldest All Black and centenarian Roy Roper dies". Stuff. Retrieved 14 September 2023.

Records
Preceded by Ron Elvidge	Oldest living All Black 30 March 2019 – 14 September 2023	Succeeded by Bill McCaw

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