The sight of Mexted exploding off the back of a scrum or lineout in 34 consecutive All Blacks tests was a childhood rugby highlight. The formidable presence of his 'tache alone seemed to suspend defenders in awe as he galloped to the advantage line. Brought hilarity, insight and despair in equal measure to fans with his commentaries. His passion for the game continues as the founder of the International Rugby Academy of New Zealand.
3. Andy Murray
Who would have thought: Andy Murray - the US Open, Wimbledon and Olympic champion. The man has shown heart and more personality beyond what once seemed whingeing and solemnity. Has put media debate to rest about whether he is a Brit or a Scot. He's now a grand slam winner, so a Brit it is. He's also the reason we don't have to roll out that nauseating line every June which included the words Fred Perry, Wimbledon, last British winner and 1936. Come in lad, join the Murray scroll of honour.
4. Bruce Murray
Bruce Alexander Grenfell 'aka Bags' eases into the Murray hall of fame on the basis of one of the finest anecdotes in New Zealand cricket folklore. The opening batsman was fielding at third man in a test at Dhaka (in what was then Pakistan). He was struck by what he described as "one of those whopping great bananas they have over there". He strode in bearing said banana to complain to the umpires. As he approached, Dayle Hadlee steamed in to bowl a bouncer which ballooned off the batsman's gloves. There was no gully but Murray was looming. He successfully dived for a one-handed catch - while hanging onto his banana. The batsman was given 'not out' but the incident relieved tension on a tough tour as the players rolled about with laughter. Play was soon called off when too many fires were lit in the stands.
5. Murray Walker
The voice of Formula One from 1978-2001, Walker brought the sport alive as he escalated through the octaves when drama enveloped the likes of Alain Prost, Ayrton Senna, Nigel Mansell or Nelson Piquet. Has had some classic commentary cock-ups attributed too, like: "the lead car is absolutely unique, except for the one behind it which is identical". However, such glitches could easily be ignored as he won fans over with unbounded enthusiasm.
6. Deryck Murray
The West Indian test wicketkeeper from 1963-1980 during the start of their world cricket domination. Murray mightn't get the adulation of a Clive Lloyd, Viv Richards, Michael Holding or Andy Roberts; fair enough. To paraphrase Ian Smith's autobiography title Murray was 'just a drummer in the band'. It'd be interesting to know how his finger joints are shaping up these days. Hopefully he put a couple of decent steaks in his gloves as insurance against thunderbolts from the pace attack known as the "four horsemen of the apocalypse".
7. Murray Jones
Sailing skills helped Team New Zealand win the America's Cup twice and then twice more with Alinghi. Had the nous to realise fighting for the Auld Mug had morphed into a Formula One-type contest rather than being about nationality. At 55, he's back again this year with Oracle. The salty dog of Murrays, he also sailed for New Zealand in the Flying Dutchman class at the Barcelona and Seoul Olympics.
8. Murray Pierce
The 1987 World Cup-winning All Black was a handy lineout target and a steel rod in the scrums. Took over the mantle from Andy Haden too, no easy feat. Listed at 1.98m Pierce was a policeman at the time. You could imagine him chasing crooks and having to rip the driver's seats out of small vehicles like Police Academy's Moses Hightower just to get the required leg room. But, like any decent Murray, he'd ask the driver politely first.
9. Tania Dixon-Murray
Took gold in the high jump at the 1990 Auckland Commonwealth Games in a jump off with Northern Irishwoman Janet Boyle. Then Tania Murray she waited patiently at Mt Smart for each leap as the crowd egged her on. Let's face it... how many decent high jumpers has New Zealand ever produced? We're hardly Swedes, Cubans or Ukrainians. Murray at least gave us hope that halcyon summer. Her national record of 1.92m, set the following year, still holds.
10. Graham Murray
Died in July from a heart attack aged 58 but left a rugby league legacy as a respected coach and player. Probably best remembered for taking the North Queensland Cowboys to their first final series in 2004 and first grand final in 2005. In 2000 he steered the Roosters to their first grand final in twenty years after earning some titles in England. Also had a stint coaching New South Wales in the State of Origin.
