All Black Aaron Hopa has drowned in a diving accident off the Coromandel coast.
Hopa, 27, drowned while on a diving expedition with some Waikato team-mates near Slipper Island, 20km from Tairua.
A blindside flanker or No.8, Hopa played a total of 44 first class games, including four for the All Blacks on the 1997 tour of Britain and Ireland.
On Monday, he was named in the Chiefs Super 12 team and earlier this year was named as a member of a 40-man All Black summer training squad.
All Black manager Mike Banks described Hopa as a highly valued and respected All Black who had made an immense contribution to New Zealand rugby.
"The All Black selectors saw 1999 as a big year for Aaron and it was great to see him back in the frame when we named the squad in October," Banks said.
All Black coach John Hart said he and his fellow selectors were extremely impressed with Hopa's performance for Waikato during the 1998 season.
"It was marvellous the way Aaron had fought back from a should injury earlier this year to be right on top of his game," Hart said. "The selectors had great hopes for him next year."
New Zealand Rugby Football Union chief executive David Moffett said: "I am sure all rugby supporters in New Zealand will join us in extending our heartfelt sympathy to the Hopa family."
All Black dead in diving accident
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