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 following a mysterious “medical event”.

Philpott was only 58 years old.

Recognized for his vBecause of his versatility, Philpott was able to fill most backline positions during his playing days.

He played 12 games and two tests for the All Blacks after making his debut on the 1988 tour of Australia, just months after tearing the anterior 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 present and future stars.

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

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

As many rugby fans pointed out online after the tragic news, Philpott was not a superstar, but his desire to improve made him a fan favorite.

“Philpott, or Rita as he was known, belongs to a group of men who have produced standards and an aura 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, part-internationals, those who got lucky through a variety of circumstances.

“His work for the All Blacks may have lasted less than an hour, but he had reached the pinnacle of his sport.”

NZ Rugby confirmed the news of Philpott’s death, saying his “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.