Eric Tristram Harper (1 December 1877 – 30 April 1918)[1] was a New Zealand sportsman and lawyer, who is most notable for playing rugby union for the New Zealand national rugby union team and in 1905 became one of the Original All Blacks when he toured Britain and Ireland with Dave Gallaher's team.

Reaching the rank of Sergeant Major[citation needed] he served in the Canterbury Mounted Rifles division and was posted to Palestine.

On 30 April 1918, while his unit was coming under artillery bombardment in Jerusalem, he attempted to quiet horses and was killed in the attack.

When the full squad left for Europe, Harper was amongst the team, but was injured in an early encounter, playing in only four of the first 17 British matches.

Harper was only chosen for the encounter against France, but was part of a high scoring three-quarters line, that managed seven tries and three conversions between them.