Paul Macfie a key player for Pirate's rugby in Invercargill in 1982...................

Paul Macfie was a great captain of the Pirates Senior team from 1982-1984

Paul Macfie was the Pirate's senior captain in 1982.  He was born in Balclutha and attended South Otago High School where he became Head Prefect.  Paul played schoolboy rugby for Otago U/18 in 1973/74 and for the South Island in 1974.
He played for Lincoln College U/19 and Canterbury U/19.
The 1976 season saw him in the Canterbury Senior team as a first five.  His ability soon showed and this saw him being selected for the New Zealand colts.  In 1977 Paul played for New Zealand Universities.
The following season he played for Otago and also South Island and continued his association with rugby until he moved to Southland in 1981.
Paul was selected to tour Australia with the New Zealand juniors in 1978 but unfortunately he had to withdraw at the last moment due to injury.
He also played for Otago Sub Union teams over a period of many seasons.
He said that he preferred to play as a first five and he probably could have gone to the top had it not been for the players such as Doug Bruce and Lyn Jaffray that had cemented this position for a long period.
Paul was a huge gain to Pirates Rugby Club and his influence, respect and knowledge of the game was invaluable.
This proved when Pirates won the Galbraith Shield in 1984 with Paul at the helm.

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