At the Tarras rugby ground on Saturday, Upper Clutha captain Ben Purvis was presented with a replacement All Blacks cap for his father, Neil, who died in 2008.
The ceremony was held before a clash between Upper Clutha and Arrowtown for the Neil Purvis Memorial shield.
Arrowtown won 32-26.
The Purvis family homestead on Cluden Station in Tarras was destroyed in a fire last August. Neil Purvis’ cap was destroyed along with other rugby memorabilia.
Purvis played 14 games for the All Blacks in 1976, including a test against Ireland.
His son Sam said it was "great" to receive a replacement.
"There haven’t been many made. It’s also something you can look at to remember him by."
The fire came as a shock to the family, but they were rebuilding the homestead, he said.
The project was started when family friend Paul Allison, who has a long history in Otago sport, including as a sports commentator and chief executive of Sport Otago, took the request to New Zealand Rugby chief executive Steve Tew.
It was important to replace the cap as it was a "special part of rugby history", Mr Allison said.
"It’s also a memento for the family. This seemed like the perfect occasion, at the field across from his property."
Neil Purvis was known for his hospitality, Mr Allison said.
"He was the best host in the world, always having people to stay. He loved people and loved sport."
The cap was presented by former All Black Wayne Graham, of Dunedin, who played with Purvis for Otago in the 1970s and against him when he played in South Otago.
"We had the forward pack, but they had the backs. In the dry they were hard to beat but if they came down to South Otago and played in the mud, we’d smash them.
"Neil was a big part of the Tarras community."
