Morrie Dixon, a renowned All Black wing of the 1950s, died in Christchurch yesterday, aged 75.

An accomplished tap dancer as a youngster, Dixon took that clever footwork on to the rugby field.

It was said that he could "turn on a sixpence and do a somersault on a sheet of foolscap".

A specialist right wing, injuries severely reduced his first-class appearances, but he played 45 matches for Canterbury between 1948 and 1956, and 28 games for the All Blacks from 1953 to 1957, including 10 tests.