One of the Far North's most respected and celebrated rugby union players and supporters has been awarded a prestigious Lifetime Member award.
Barry Murray (Ngati Kuri) of Kaitaia has spent most of his life dedicated to the Far North rugby union and was recently bestowed the prestigious Life Member status for his work with the Mangonui Rugby Football Sub-Union.
The 67-year-old's love for rugby dates back to his school days where he played from primary through to senior-level school rugby.
He has also played for Mangonui and the North Auckland B Team, as well as coaching rugby and athletics in schools.
Murray's passion for rugby brought him back to his local club, where he became chairman of the Mangonui Rugby Football Sub-Union in 2009 and remained in that position until 2020, when he went on to become president until 2021.