Born: 14 April, 1934
Died: 2 May, 2019
Test record: 3 Tests (1956) – 0 points
Tours: 1956 tour of Australia

Auckland front-rower Duncan MacRae played all three Tests on New Zealand’s 1956 tour of Australia.

A promising rugby union player at colts level while in Taumauranui, MacRae became valued Point Chevalier clubman and represented Auckland in 1954.

The 22-year-old was one of several new faces in the ’56 Kiwis’ touring party and made his debut in a 26-17 win over NSW, lining up against luminaries such as Roy Bull and Ken Kearney. MacRae’s performance earned a Test call-up a week later – Australia won the series opener at the SCG – and he held the prop berth for the remaining matches, with champion forward Cliff Johnson utilised in the second-row.

Injuries curtailed MacRae’s career, but he came out of retirement to play for fledgling Mangere East in 1965-66 alongside his brothers, Murdoch and Auckland and North Island rep Ronald.