logo
Former All Blacks captain Stu Wilson passes away aged 70

Former All Blacks captain Stu Wilson passes away aged 70

Irish Examiner3 days ago

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. Wilson was part of the New Zealand side who lost 12-0 to Munster in Thomond Park in 1978.
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."
REMEMBERED: Larry Moloney and Seamus Dennilson track the run of All Black Stu Wilson during Munster's historic 12-0 victory over the All Blacks at Thomond Park in 1978
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."

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Liverpool target PSG star Barcola after Wirtz with transfer spending to top £300MILLION – and haven't ruled out Isak
Liverpool target PSG star Barcola after Wirtz with transfer spending to top £300MILLION – and haven't ruled out Isak

The Irish Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Irish Sun

Liverpool target PSG star Barcola after Wirtz with transfer spending to top £300MILLION – and haven't ruled out Isak

LIVERPOOL are set to swoop for Paris Saint-Germain star Bradley Barcola — pushing their summer spending over £300MILLION. The Premier League champs intend to spend big on another attacker even after they complete a British-transfer record Advertisement 5 Bradley Barcola has emerged as a shock target for Liverpool Credit: Getty 5 Liverpool still have hope of signing Alexander Isak Credit: Getty 5 Florian Wirtz is set to move to Anfield in a record £127m deal Credit: Shutterstock Editorial And they are prepared to battle Kop chiefs would still love 23-goal Isak to lead their But if the Toon insist on a fee of around £150m for the 25-year-old Sweden international, Liverpool will bow out and look for an alternative. Advertisement READ MORE IN FOOTBALL And Barcola has emerged as a spectacular Plan B after doubts emerged over his future with Champions League winners The Anfield giants have already spent £29.5m on Wirtz's Leverkusen team-mate, defender But it is the prospect of Barcola teaming up with Wirtz, 22, and Anfield icon Mo Salah, 32, which will have fans pinching themselves. Barcola, who is Bayern's No 1 target, is no longer part of PSG's first-choice front three. Advertisement Most read in Football JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET £50 BONUS 5 He found himself on the bench again for last month's Champions League final against Inter Milan, coming on in the 67th minute and teeing up Senny Mayulu for the last goal in the 5-0 thrashing. Bayern have made no secret of their intention to test PSG's resolve to keep Barcola, who they signed from Lyon for £38m in 2023. Advertisement Liverpool will look to raise funds by offloading erratic forward 5

Finlay Bealham will be a great fit for the group – Lions head coach Andy Farrell
Finlay Bealham will be a great fit for the group – Lions head coach Andy Farrell

RTÉ News​

time5 hours ago

  • RTÉ News​

Finlay Bealham will be a great fit for the group – Lions head coach Andy Farrell

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell believes replacement call-up Finlay Bealham will prove a "great fit" for the squad following the "heartbreaking" withdrawal of injured Scotland prop Zander Fagerson. Glasgow Warriors tight head Fagerson has been ruled out of the summer tour to Australia by a calf problem. The news of Fagerson's withdrawal came a day before the squad – minus those involved in the Premiership and United Rugby Championship finals – headed out to Portugal for a training camp. Farrell, though, accepts such situations are part of the game, with the group now looking to sharpen focus towards a warm-up fixture against Argentina in Dublin on 20 June. "It is heartbreaking, but at the same time, he (Fagerson) is a realist. All rugby players know that's the game," Farrell told Sky Sports. "He will work unbelievably hard to get himself fit and who knows what's going to happen down the track." On Bealham, who moved to Ireland from Australia aged 18, being added to the squad, Farrell said: "Finlay has been called up in his place and he is in good form. He is very good at what he does. "He was certainly right up there in the conversation from the very start as well, and he would have been disappointed not to make the group. "So we just know he will be a great fit for the group going forward. He is the only conversation that I was able to have because of the way we did the squad announcement. "By giving him a phone call and telling him he was selected within the squad, unfortunately for Zander, but it was one of the best phone conversations I have ever had. "The emotion that went through the phone actually welled me up. It was great to be able to do that." With 15 of the selected players still on club duty – including 12 from Leinster – England duo Jamie George and Asher Opoku-Fordjour have also joined the five-day training camp at Quinta do Lago to provide some front-row cover. "It is what it is," said Farrell. "You've just got to be open-minded enough to see what you end up with – what we have ended up with is a squad of 24. "It is a new group that has come together for the first time, so to keep it small and tight gives plenty of time in this five-day camp for people to get in the saddle and get up to speed with new systems, a new way of playing. "We will see what we need to add to the squad in the coming weeks." The fixture against Argentina is set to be a first Lions game played in Ireland. The tour of Australia schedule – which features three Tests against the Wallabies – begins against Western Force in Perth on 28 June.

Finlay Bealham will be a great fit for the group – Lions head coach Andy Farrell
Finlay Bealham will be a great fit for the group – Lions head coach Andy Farrell

Irish Examiner

time5 hours ago

  • Irish Examiner

Finlay Bealham will be a great fit for the group – Lions head coach Andy Farrell

British and Irish Lions head coach Andy Farrell believes replacement call-up Finlay Bealham will prove a 'great fit' for the squad following the 'heartbreaking' withdrawal of injured Scotland prop Zander Fagerson. Glasgow Warriors tight head Fagerson has been ruled out of the summer tour to Australia by a calf problem. The news of Fagerson's withdrawal came a day before the squad – minus those involved in the Gallagher Premiership and United Rugby Championship finals – headed out to Portugal for a training camp. Zander Fagerson has been ruled out of this summer's British & Irish Lions tour of Australia after sustaining a calf injury. We wish Zander all the best in his recovery 💙 — Scottish Rugby (@Scotlandteam) June 9, 2025 Farrell, though, accepts such situations are part of the game, with the group now looking to sharpen focus towards a warm-up fixture against Argentina in Dublin on June 20. 'It is heartbreaking, but at the same time, he (Fagerson) is a realist. All rugby players know that's the game,' Farrell told Sky Sports. 'He will work unbelievably hard to get himself fit and who knows what's going to happen down the track.' On Ireland's Bealham being added to the squad, Farrell said: 'Finlay has been called up in his place and he is in good form. He is very good at what he does. 'He was certainly right up there in the conversation from the very start as well, and he would have been disappointed not to make the group. 'So we just know he will be a great fit for the group going forward. He is the only conversation that I was able to have because of the way we did the squad announcement. Andy Farrell will use the training camp to fine tune preparations ahead of the return to Ireland (John Walton/PA) 'By giving him a phone call and telling him he was selected within the squad, unfortunately for Zander, but it was one of the best phone conversations I have ever had. 'The emotion that went through the phone actually welled me up. It was great to be able to do that.' With 15 of the selected players still on club duty – including 12 from Leinster – England duo Jamie George and Asher Opoku-Fordjour have also joined the five-day training camp at Quinta do Lago to provide some front-row cover. 'It is what it is,' said Farrell. 'You've just got to be open-minded enough to see what you end up with – what we have ended up with is a squad of 24. 'It is a new group that has come together for the first time, so to keep it small and tight gives plenty of time in this five-day camp for people to get in the saddle and get up to speed with new systems, a new way of playing. 'We will see what we need to add to the squad in the coming weeks.' The fixture against Argentina is set to be a first Lions game played in Ireland. The tour of Australia schedule – which features three Tests against the Wallabies – begins against Western Force in Perth on June 28.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store