Former All Blacks captain Stu Wilson dies aged 70
New Zealand's Stu Wilson scoring a try as South Africa's Gysie Pienaar tackles him in the first rugby test match at Lancaster Park, Christchurch on Aug 15, 1981. PHOTO: AFP
Former All Blacks captain Stu Wilson died on Sunday at the age of 70, New Zealand Rugby (NZR) said.
Wilson made his debut in 1976 and played in 34 Tests, scoring 19 Test tries and becoming the first wing to captain the All Blacks when he led the side in their tour of Scotland and England in 1983.
He was also part of their 4-0 series win over the British and Irish Lions in New Zealand in 1983, scoring a hat-trick of tries in the fourth Test.
Former All Blacks loose forward Murray Mexted said his former teammate 'lived life with a smile on his face'.
'We called him Super Stu because he was a super rugby player,' he told Radio New Zealand on Monday. 'He just seemed to slide through gaps effortlessly and he was so good at it that they moved him into centre at one stage.'
Wilson also made 89 appearances for Wellington between 1975 and 1984, scoring 216 points.
'Beyond his playing career, Wilson remained an influential voice in the game, contributing as a commentator and advocate for rugby, always bringing insight and passion to his analysis,' the Wellington Rugby Football Union said in a statement.
'Stu Wilson's contribution to rugby in Wellington and New Zealand is immeasurable. He was more than just a world-class player; he was a proud ambassador for the sport, his province, and his country.' REUTERS
Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Straits Times
22 minutes ago
- Straits Times
Auckland coach readies part-time squad for Club World Cup's 'toughest group'
Auckland City's players aren't full-time professionals and many have taken annual leave to compete in the Club World Cup where they face what coach Paul Posa calls "the toughest group". New Zealand's champions, who are fresh from winning the OFC Champions League, will face Bayern Munich, Benfica and Boca Juniors in Group C of the revamped tournament, which starts on Saturday, and Posa acknowledged their uphill battle. "It's quite possibly the toughest group we could have drawn," Posa, who guided them to fifth place in the old Club World Cup in 2009, told Reuters. "We have two traditional European powerhouses in Bayern Munich and Benfica and Boca Juniors, who are also capable of going all the way." "We have competed in many of the previous versions of the CWC competition which has given us a broad range of experience allowing us to punch above our weight in the past. Our goals are to be prepared, and compete, to the best of our ability," he added. Auckland enter the 32-team tournament months after claiming their 13th Oceania title and fourth in succession. Yet despite continental success, football remains a part-time commitment for the squad. "All of the players have other jobs alongside their football commitments," said Posa. "However, they have an extraordinary dedication to their football outside of their working hours. "Players have had to take annual leave from their jobs... Indeed some of the players were unable to take time to attend both the OFC Champions League competition and the Club World Cup." The mid-June to mid-July tournament timing means it falls during Auckland's season rather than after it, as the previous version of the competition did. "The challenge of having the CWC fall in the middle of the season has been ensuring that players are in top form at the right times - however I believe we're on track to achieve this," said Posa. Serving as caretaker coach for Albert Riera, who's away for family reasons, Posa previously managed Auckland from 2008-2010. During the 2009 Club World Cup, they defeated UAE's Shabab Al Ahli and DR Congo's TP Mazembe to finish fifth. The 63-year-old acknowledged how difficult it would be to repeat his 2009 success: "It's nice to dream we could be that competitive again - however, we're realistic about the challenge." While temporary, Posa has maintained Auckland's established playing style. "It has not been difficult to maintain a playing philosophy that has evolved at Auckland City over many years. Of course, every coach puts their own fingerprint on a team," he said. This stability underpins Auckland's continued success. "This comes down to building on experience gained in previous competitions and a consistent focus on being well organised and prepared, both on and off the pitch," Posa said. "The culture surrounding the team is such that they always want to win and motivating them is no problem at all." REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
‘No faking' about Oakmont says injured Tiger Woods ahead of US Open
Tiger Woods warned US Open golfers in a social media video on June 11 about the formidable Oakmont course.. PHOTO: REUTERS 'No faking' about Oakmont says injured Tiger Woods ahead of US Open OAKMONT, United States - Tiger Woods, a 15-time major winner sidelined after rupturing his left Achilles tendon in March, warned US Open golfers in a social media video on June 11 there's 'no faking' about Oakmont. The 49-year-old American, a three-time US Open champion, underwent surgery to repair the injury but has no timetable for his return to competitive golf as he misses the US Open for the fourth time in five years. In an Instagram post, Woods gave this week's US Open field some advice about coping with the deep rough, tricky bunkers and fast greens of Oakmont, as well as a warning. 'You just have to hit the golf ball better,' Woods said. 'There is no faking about Oakmont. 'The golf course is big, yes, but it's just – there's no way around it. You just have to hit the golf ball well and it favors longer hitters, just because of the degrees, the complexes.' Being in the fairway to properly approach the greens is crucial as well, Woods said. 'It just helps so much to be coming with a shorter iron, to be able to sock the ball,' he said. 'It's about missing the ball on correct spots... because if you don't, it's horrible.' Woods shared second at the 2007 US Open at Oakmont but missed the 2016 edition of the event on the same course following back surgery the year before. Woods has not made the cut at the US Open since he shared 21st in 2019, the same year he won his most recent major title at the Masters. AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
Straits Times
an hour ago
- Straits Times
Scottie Scheffler set for ‘hardest' test at Oakmont for US Open
Scottie Scheffler of the United States playing a shot from the bunker on the 13th hole, during a practice round prior to the US Open, on June 11. PHOTO: AFP Scottie Scheffler set for 'hardest' test at Oakmont for US Open OAKMONT, United States - World number one Scottie Scheffler said on June 11 the formidable Oakmont course could provide 'the hardest' challenge of his career at the 125th US Open this week. Lightning-fast sloped greens combined with deep, dense rough and bunkers designed to leave balls along the edges had many players calling it the toughest layout they have faced as Oakmont hosts a record 10th US Open. 'This is probably the hardest golf course that we'll play, maybe ever,' said Scheffler, who won May's PGA Championship for his third major title, ahead of the June 12 opening round. Second-ranked Rory McIlroy, who won the Masters in April to complete a career Grand Slam, called Oakmont a 'big brute' and added: 'You're going to have to have your wits about you this week all the way.' Not since American Jordan Spieth captured the 2015 Masters and US Open has anyone won consecutive majors, but two-time Masters winner Scheffler is on a hot streak. Scheffler has won three of his past four starts, matching a PGA Tour record for low 72-hole total to take the Byron Nelson and defending his Memorial title 10 days ago in addition to his major triumph. 'He's in the middle of every fairway,' third-ranked Xander Schauffele said of Scheffler. 'It takes a serious amount of discipline to play away from pins and hit really good shots to safe targets, and that's what it takes to play well at US Opens.' Three-time major winner Spieth said most players will pitch onto fairways from the thick rough rather than try to blast out short of the green. 'It magnifies once you make a mistake if you don't play the right shot,' Spieth said. 'It may cost you half a shot to get back in the fairway a little further up. 'They give you more green here to entice you into doing more than you should. There's some risk-reward on this place. You've got to avoid compounding mistakes for sure.' Finding the fairway is crucial, McIlroy said. 'Decent lies in the rough are few and far between,' McIlroy said. 'You don't want to ride your luck on this golf course. 'You hit the ball in the rough and you're not going to have any control of your ball going into the green, especially these greens that are pitched away from you. 'You have to be able to spin the ball going into these greens if you want it to finish anywhere close to where you want.' Northern Ireland's Rory McIlroy playing a shot from the bunker on the fourth hole, during a practice round prior to the US Open, on June 11. PHOTO: AFP 'There was no loft' And sometimes the rough just wins. 'I had some lies that were not playable,' fourth-ranked Collin Morikawa said of his time in the rough during practice rounds. 'There was no loft.' Scheffler, who turns 29 the Saturday after the tournament, made his major debut at Oakmont at the 2016 US Open, missing the cut as a 19-year-old amateur with his older sister Callie serving as his caddie. One year later, Scheffler was low amateur at the US Open and five years after that, he was a Masters champion. 'I remember coming here and thinking it was really fun, really cool to be able to play in the US Open,' Scheffler said. 'But what I really remembered was coming back the next year and... finishing low am.' Scheffler also recalled rushing off the course to watch game six of the 2016 NBA Finals, when LeBron James led Cleveland to victory on the way to taking the title over Stephen Curry and Golden State. 'This year's finals is probably not going to affect my schedule as much,' Scheffler said. 'Golden State was playing Cleveland and I really wanted to watch that because you had LeBron playing Steph.' The devoted Dallas Mavericks fan has struggled since his team traded star Luka Doncic to the Los Angeles Lakers. 'Ever since the Mavs traded Luka, I've been a little bummed watching the NBA. Hurts a little bit still,' he said. 'We'll have to regroup and get ready for next season for the Mavs.' AFP Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
