Dave Laurie, an outstanding Auckland rugby fullback of the late 1960s, died in Auckland earlier this week, aged 61, after a long illness.

Laurie, from the Waitemata club, played 30 games for Auckland between 1966 and 1969 and for the North Island in 1967. He had a superb game for the New Zealand Juniors against the touring Lions at Athletic Park in 1966, the same match in which, in difficult conditions, Mike Gibson starred for the Lions.

Just when it seemed Laurie was destined to be an All Black the latter part of his career was affected by injuries.