Footy great who played for his country dies aged just 58 after mystery ‘medical event’

Former All Blacks star Shayne Philpott has died in New Zealand after a mysterious ‘medical event’.

Philpott was only 58.

Known for its vPhilpott’s versatility allowed him to fill most positions in the backline during his playing days.

He played 12 matches and two tests for the All Blacks after making his debut on the 1988 tour of Australia just months after tearing the cruciate ligament in his left knee.

The injury occurred while Philpott was playing for the New Zealand Sevens in Sydney in a team full of current and future stars.

Among them were Zinzan Brooke, John Kirwan, John Schuster and François Botica.

Despite breaking his arm playing for club side Canterbury just nine weeks after the 1991 Rugby World Cup, Philpott was included in John Hart’s All Blacks squad.

As many rugby fans noted online after the tragic news, Philpott was no superstar, but his desire to improve made him a fan favorite.

NZ Rugby has confirmed the news of Philpott’s death and stated that their ‘thoughts were with his family’

“Philpott, or Rita as he was known, is one of a group of men who have produced standards and charisma that are the envy of the sporting world,” respected rugby journalist Wynne Gray previously wrote.

‘We can all think of players we wouldn’t have picked for the All Blacks, fringe contenders, minor internationals, those who got lucky through all kinds of circumstances.

‘His work for the All Blacks may have been less than an hour, but he had reached the pinnacle of his sport.’

NZ Rugby has confirmed the news of Philpott’s death, saying their ‘thoughts were with his family’.

Philpott’s death comes just over a week after former Highlander Connor Garden-Bachop also died following a medical event in Christchurch.