Toby Murray

Harold Vivian "Toby" Murray (9 February 1888 – 4 July 1971) was a New Zealand rugby union player. Predominantly a wing-forward, Murray represented Canterbury at a provincial level, and was a member of the New Zealand national side, the All Blacks, in 1913 and 1914. He played 22 matches for the All Blacks including four internationals, scoring 12 tries in all.[2]

Toby Murray

Birth name	Harold Vivian Murray
Date of birth	(1888-02-09)9 February 1888
Place of birth	Lincoln, New Zealand[1]
Date of death	4 July 1971(1971-07-04) (aged 83)
Place of death	Amberley, New Zealand
Height	1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Weight	81 kg (179 lb)[1]
School	Christ's College
Occupation(s)	Farmer, sheep breeder
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing-forward All Black No. 180 Provincial / State sides Years Team Apps (Points) 1909–14 Canterbury () National team(s) Years Team Apps (Points) 1913–14 New Zealand 4 (9)

Murray enlisted for the New Zealand Expeditionary Force in August 1916, and served in the 21st Specialist Company, Machine-Gun Section. He saw action in France, and received a shrapnel wound to the right thigh in April 1918.[1] Following the end of the war, Murray played three matches for the New Zealand Services team in the King's Cup in 1919.[2] During World War II, Murray was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Home Guard in 1941, and was posted to the reserve of officers at the beginning of 1944.[1]

Murray farmed and bred sheep in North Canterbury, where he was active in the local agricultural and pastoral association, and served as a member of the North Canterbury Electric Power Board. He died at Amberley on 4 July 1971.[2] The athlete and architect Henry Murray (1886–1943) was his cousin.[3]

References

1. "Murray, Harold Vivian - WWI 31025, WWII N/N - Army". Archives New Zealand. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
2. Knight, Lindsay. "Toby Murray". New Zealand Rugby Union. Retrieved 9 February 2016.
3. "Soldier sportsman". Auckland Star. LXXIV (87). 13 April 1943. p. 5. Retrieved 20 March 2020.