Graham Mourie

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Lore & Background

He was first selected for the All Blacks in 1976, captaining a second-string New Zealand team that toured South America. He was selected again for the All Blacks against the touring British Lions in 1977, and captained the side in France later that year, replacing Tane Norton as captain. He played a total of 61 matches (57 as captain) for the All Blacks until 1982. He captained the All Blacks on their historic Grand Slam tour of Britain and Ireland in 1978. In 1981, Mourie made himself unavailable for selection during the controversial Springbok Tour of New Zealand. He returned as captain later that year for the tour of Romania and France. Mourie also played for the Barbarians and for a World XV. He retired from playing in 1982 and together with Ron Palenski penned his autobiography. Because he openly accepted royalties from book sales and declared himself 'professional' - to challenge the existing rules around amateurism, he was banned from coaching, playing or administering the game for 10 years. He returned to coach the Opunake senior team, his club side, after the ban ended. He was also instrumental in setting up the Coastal rugby club in 1995 and became its first coach.

In Their Own Story

The defining moment of Mourie's moral leadership occurred in 1981 amidst the heated debate surrounding the Springbok Tour. Choosing not to play, he faced significant pressure but remained resolute, refusing to compromise his values for the sake of selection. This decision came at a personal cost; after retiring in 1982, he co-authored an autobiography with Ron Palenski. Because he openly accepted royalties and declared himself 'professional' to challenge amateurism rules, he was banned from all aspects of the game—coaching, playing, or administering—for 10 years. During this exile, he returned only to coach his old club side, Opunake, once the ban lifted. He later played a pivotal role in establishing the Coastal rugby club in 1995 as its first coach. His coaching career eventually saw him return to first-class rugby with Wellington before taking over as head coach of the Hurricanes from Frank Oliver in 2000. He resigned in June 2002 after a season labelled 'disappointing' where the team finished 9th.

Reader's Guide

Mourie's first taste of first-class coaching was with Wellington before he took over from Frank Oliver as head coach of the Hurricanes in 2000. He resigned in June 2002 at the conclusion of the season which was labelled 'disappointing' after the team finished 9th.

Did You Know?

• Mourie was named overall sportsman of the Year in the Taranaki Sports Awards in 1977.
• In the 1981 Queen's Birthday Honours, Mourie was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire, for services to rugby.
• He was inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2014 and the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame in 1996.
• He was inducted into the Taranaki Sports Hall of Fame in 2015.
• He was made a Life Member of the Taranaki Rugby Football Union in 2018 and became its Patron in July 2019.