The All Black who went outback

Keith Murdoch always preferred action to words.

That he has steadfastly refused to talk about the incident that defined his career has given it a mythical quality and made him an enigmatic figure.

It is 38 years since he slipped off the plane home choosing the anonymity of the Australian outback over returning to New Zealand in disgrace.

He has spoken no more than a couple of sentences to the few journalists who have tracked him down and has reportedly rejected at least one offer of a large sum to tell his life story.

Not that Murdoch, now 66, hasn't made headlines since. He once saved a drowning child and he was a witness in a coroner's inquest into the death of a local aborigine in the Northern Territory town in 2001. But he has never wanted media attention.

The chance to be formally capped as an All Black wasn't enough to draw Murdoch back into the limelight. When the Rugby Union last year decided to hold ceremonies to cap All Blacks from between World War II and 1997 - a period when the tradition of capping lapsed - Bruce Murdoch said it was unlikely his brother would be interested. He suggested the cap could be given to the Dunedin club they both played for, Zingari-Richmond.

An alternative would be to send it care of the Tennett Creek Post Office, Murdoch's last known location, the venue of the inquest.

His silence is an accomplice to the mystery. What exactly was the role of the British home unions, generally thought to have pressed for Murdoch to be sent home?

Murdoch scored the All Blacks' only try in the 19-16 win over Wales at Cardiff Arms Park in December 1972. The narrow defeat of Wales was one of only two meetings between the sides during Wales' golden decade and extended Wales' winless streak against the All Blacks to almost 20 years (now 56). Murdoch had played well, his try in his third test match was crucial and a long-stint in the black jersey seemingly beckoned. Everything changed late the same night when, intoxicated and - so it is said - in search of a sandwich, he punched a security guard named Peter Grant in the kitchen of the Angel Hotel. He was selected for the next match but later informed he was being sent home was soon on his way to the airport, infamy and the Australian bush.

In recent years the captain, Ian Kirkpatrick, has expressed regret that he had not stood up more strongly for Murdoch. Had the team had time to form a united front in his support, the decision may have been reversed and Murdoch's life taken a different course.

Meanwhile, the rugby union hasn't given up on presenting Murdoch with his cap. He is among 10 (of 440 eligible to receive the caps) players the union has yet to contact, but spokesman Brian Finn says it is still trying. "Our desire is to give it to him. He's earned it by playing tests."

If all possibilities of contacting Murdoch directly are exhausted, or Murdoch doesn't want it, Finn said the union may consider presenting Badge 686 for display at his old club.