New Zealand All Black and Waikato rugby union player Aaron Hopa died in a scuba diving accident yesterday.

Aaron (27) was a 1997 All Black who played in the midweek team on the tour of Ireland and Britain. In October, Hopa was named by the All Blacks selectors in the national summer training squad of 42 to prepare for the 1999 season. He was named in the Chiefs Super 12 squad on Monday.

Hopa was diving with seven other members of the Waikato provincial rugby team in about 30 feet of water at Slipper Island off the coast of Tairua but had "difficulties" when he surfaced a police spokesman said. Hopa, highly rated by the All Black management, was given CPR on the boat and at Whangamata until a doctor pronounced him dead. A post mortem will be held today.