Shayne Philpott dead at 58 – New Zealand All Blacks rugby legend dies after suffering ‘medical event’

NEW Zealand All Blacks legend Shayne Philpott has died aged 58 after suffering a mystery “medical event”.

News of the athlete’s death was confirmed by NZ Rugby, saying their “thoughts were with his family.”

Shayne Philpott has died aged 58X.COM

x.com/@truthtellerKPPhilpott passed away suffering a mystery ‘medical event’[/caption]

x.com/@GeoffAlleyHe played 12 games and two Tests for the All Blacks after making his debut on the 1988 tour of Australia[/caption]

Philpott could fill most positions in the backline throughout his career.

Just months after rupturing his left knee’s ACL, he made his All Blacks debut on the 1988 tour of Australia and went on to play 12 games and two Tests.

But Philpott sustained an injury as he competed for the New Zealand Sevens in Sydney, a team comprised of both current and future stars.

The star was then nominated to John Hart’s All Blacks roster, despite injuring his arm playing for Canterbury just nine weeks before the 1991 Rugby World Cup.

Devastated fans described Philpott as a determined player, a quality that would later earn him a loyal fanbase.

Rugby journalist Wynne Gray previously wrote: “Philpott, or Rita as he was known, belongs to a group of men who have produced standards and aura which are the envy of the sporting world.”

“We can all think of players we would not have chosen for the All Blacks, fringe contenders, bit-part internationals, those who lucked in through a variety of circumstance.

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

Philpott’s death comes just days after former Highlander Connor Garden-Bachop died following a medical event in Christchurch.