Murray Graham Mexted (born 5 September 1953) is a former New Zealand

rugby union Rugby union football, commonly known simply as rugby union in English-speaking countries and rugby 15/XV in non-English-speaking world, Anglophone Europe, or often just rugby, is a Contact sport#Terminology, close-contact team sport that orig ...

player who played 34 consecutive tests for the

All Blacks The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks, is the representative men's national team in the sport of rugby union for the nation of New Zealand, which is considered the country's national sport. Famed for th ...

from 1979 to 1985. He also played 38 non-test games including 7 as captain. During his time with the

, he wore the number eight jersey and was considered an excellent ball winner and an effective defender. In 1986, his biography, ''Pieces of Eight'', was published, and he married Miss Universe Lorraine Downes. The couple separated in 1999. In recent years , he has retained a high profile as a television

colour commentator A color commentator or expert commentator is a sports commentator who assists the main (play-by-play) commentator, typically by filling in when play is not in progress. The person may also be referred to as a summariser (outside North America) ...

. Mexted's father,

Graham Mexted Graham George Mexted (3 February 1927 – 9 March 2009) was a New Zealand rugby union player. Playing in the position of Rugby union positions#Number Eight, number 8, Mexted represented Wellington Rugby Football Union, Wellington at a provincial ...

, was also a New Zealand rugby union international who won one full cap in 1950. Prior to his rugby career, Mexted worked at his family's car dealership. In the 2025 King’s Birthday Honours, Mexted was appointed an

Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit The New Zealand Order of Merit () is an order of merit in the New Zealand royal honours system. It was established by royal warrant on 30 May 1996 by Elizabeth II, Queen of New Zealand, "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have r ...

, for services to rugby.

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* 1953 births Living people Rugby union players from Wellington City People educated at Tawa College New Zealand international rugby union players New Zealand rugby union players Wellington rugby union players Rugby union number eights New Zealand rugby union commentators Sharks (Currie Cup) players 20th-century New Zealand sportsmen Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit {{NewZealand-rugbyunion-bio-1950s-stub