Wilson Whineray

Last updated

Sir Wilson Whineray
KNZM OBE
Wilson Whineray.jpg
Birth nameWilson James Whineray
Date of birth(1935-07-10)10 July 1935
Place of birth Auckland, New Zealand
Date of death22 October 2012(2012-10-22) (aged 77)
Place of deathAuckland, New Zealand
Height1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Weight94 kg (14 st 11 lb)
School Auckland Grammar School
University University of Auckland
Harvard University
Lincoln University
Rugby union career
Position(s) Prop
Provincial / State sides
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1953 Wairarapa 3 ()
1954 Mid Canterbury 9 ()
1955 Manawatu 7 ()
1956–1957 Canterbury 16 ()
1958 Waikato 7 ()
1959–1966 Auckland 61 ()
International career
YearsTeamApps(Points)
1957–1965 New Zealand 32 (6)

Sir Wilson James Whineray KNZM OBE (10 July 1935 – 22 October 2012) [1] was a New Zealand business executive and rugby union player. He was the longest-serving captain of the national rugby union team, the All Blacks, until surpassed by Richie McCaw in 2014. [2] Rugby writer Terry McLean considered him the All Blacks' greatest captain. [3]

Contents

Domestic career

Owing to his early career as an agricultural cadet, which involved considerable travel around the country, Whineray played for six first-class teams, including Wairarapa, Mid Canterbury, Manawatu, Canterbury, Waikato, and finally his hometown team, Auckland, for whom he made 61 appearances between 1959 and 1966. He also played for the South Island, North Island, and New Zealand Universities sides.

International career

He first played for the All Blacks in 1957. The following year he became captain for the 1958 series against Australia at the young age of 23. He went on to play 77 matches for the All Blacks between 1957 and 1965, 67 of them as captain. These included 32 test matches, all but two of them as captain. [4] He played mostly in the position of prop. [5] Whineray was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), for services to sport, especially to rugby football, in the 1962 New Year Honours, [6] and he was named New Zealand Sportsperson of the Year in 1965. [2]

Later life

Whineray in 2006 Wilson Whineray 2006.jpg
Whineray in 2006

After retiring from rugby, he gained a MBA from Harvard University, where he was a member of the Harvard Business School RFC. He returned to New Zealand in 1969 and started work at Alex Harvey Industries, which became Carter Holt Harvey. [7] He rose to become deputy managing director, then chairman of the board of Carter Holt Harvey, by then a major New Zealand company, and retired from the board in 2003. [8] He was the managing director of NZ Wool Marketing Corporation in 1973–74, chairman of the National Bank of New Zealand, and a director of Auckland International Airport and APN News & Media. [4]

He was chairman of the Hillary Commission, a sports funding body, from 1993 to 1998. [5] [9] [10] He was the honorary Colonel Commandant of the New Zealand Special Air Service from 1997 to 2001. [10] [11]

In the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, Whineray was appointed a Knight Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit (KNZM), for services to sport and business management. [12] In 2003, he was inducted into the New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. [13]

In November 2004, it was reported that Whineray was a top contender to replace Dame Silvia Cartwright as Governor-General in 2006. [14] Bob Howitt has said that, "had he allowed his name to go forward, he would have become the Governor-General". [15] He became the first New Zealander inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame, being elected on 21 October 2007 (following the IRB World Cup in France) after a public vote. [4]

Whineray died in Auckland in 2012, at the age of 77. He was buried at Purewa Cemetery in the Auckland suburb of Meadowbank. [16]

All Blacks statistics

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">New Zealand national rugby union team</span> Mens rugby union team of New Zealand

The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks, represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. Famed for their international success, the All Blacks have often been regarded as one of the most successful sports teams in history.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colin Meads</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Sir Colin Earl Meads was a New Zealand rugby union player. He played 55 test matches, most frequently in the lock forward position, for New Zealand's national team, the All Blacks, from 1957 until 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Jones (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Sir Michael Niko Jones is a New Zealand former rugby union player and coach.

David Edward Kirk is a former New Zealand rugby union player. He is best known for having been the captain of the All Blacks when they won the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graham Henry</span> New Zealand sportsman

Sir Graham William Henry is a New Zealand rugby union coach, and former head coach of the country's national team, the All Blacks. Nicknamed 'Ted', he led New Zealand to win the 2011 World Cup.

Michael James Bowie Hobbs, generally known as Jock Hobbs, was a New Zealand rugby union player and administrator. A flanker, he played for Canterbury and won 21 caps for the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, between 1983 and 1986, with four tests as captain.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gordon Tietjens</span> Rugby player

Sir Gordon Frederick Tietjens is head coach of the Samoa rugby sevens team, and a celebrated former coach of the New Zealand men's national team in rugby sevens, the All Blacks Sevens. When the International Rugby Board inducted him into the IRB Hall of Fame in May 2012, it said that "Tietjens' roll of honour is without peer in Sevens, and perhaps in the game of rugby as a whole." According to Spiro Zavos, Tietjens is "The greatest of all the Sevens coaches".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bryan Williams (rugby union)</span> NZ international rugby union player & coach

Tuifaʻasisina Sir Bryan George Williams is a former New Zealand rugby union footballer and former coach of the Samoan national rugby team.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peter Leitch (businessman)</span> New Zealand businessman

Sir Peter Charles Leitch, also known as The Mad Butcher, is a New Zealand businessman. Leitch founded a chain of butcheries, and is currently brand ambassador for the company. Leitch is also well known for his charity fundraising work and his promotion of rugby league.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Lochore</span> New Zealand rugby union player and coach (1940–2019)

Sir Brian James Lochore was a New Zealand rugby union player and coach who represented and captained the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks. He played at number 8 and lock, as well as captaining the side 46 times. In 1999, Lochore was inducted into the International Rugby Hall of Fame.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">John Graham (rugby union)</span> Rugby player

Sir David John Graham, generally known as John Graham, was a New Zealand educator and rugby union player. He served as president of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union (NZRFU) and was an All Black loose forward; he played 22 Tests between 1958 and 1964, including three as captain. He was headmaster of Auckland Grammar School from 1973 to 1993, New Zealand cricket team manager from 1997 to 1999, the University of Auckland Chancellor from 1999 to 2004, and was elected president of the NZRFU in April 2005.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fred Allen (rugby union)</span> New Zealand rugby union footballer and coach

Sir Frederick Richard Allen was a captain and coach of the All Blacks, New Zealand's national rugby union team. The All Blacks won all 14 of the test matches they played under his coaching.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">DJ Forbes</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Derek Jamie "DJ" Forbes is a New Zealand former rugby union player and captain of the All Blacks Sevens team. Forbes is part Samoan, and also played rugby fifteens as a loose forward for Counties Manukau.

Sir John Packard Goulter is a New Zealand business leader based in Northland. He is chairman of the commercial arm of Ngāpuhi, Ngapuhi Asset Holding Company, and was knighted for services to business and the community.

Sir Harvey Turner was a New Zealand auctioneer, horticultural wholesaler and distributor, and businessman. He was born in Auckland, New Zealand, in 1889.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Chambers (New Zealand judge)</span> New Zealand judge and Supreme Court justice

Robert Stanley Chambers was a judge of the Supreme Court of New Zealand.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ron Carter (businessman)</span> New Zealand businessman

Sir Ronald Powell Carter is a retired New Zealand businessman.

Anna Mary Richards is a former New Zealand rugby union player. She represented New Zealand and won four Rugby World Cups — 1998, 2002, 2006, and 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harcourt Caughey</span> New Zealand rugby union player

Sir Thomas Harcourt Clarke "Pat" Caughey was a New Zealand rugby union player.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Roche (business executive)</span> New Zealand business executive

Sir Brian Joseph Roche is a New Zealand business executive and senior public servant. He has served as Public Service Commissioner since 4 November 2024.

References

  1. ↑ McBride, Kerry. "Knighted Rugby Great dies", Stuff.co.nz , New Zealand, 22 October 2012. Retrieved on 22 October 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Wilson Whineray – BCom". The University of Auckland. Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  3. ↑ "Auckland rugby". NZHistory.net.nz. Ministry for Culture and Heritage. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  4. 1 2 3 "2007 Inductee: Sir Wilson Whineray". International Rugby Board. 1 December 2007. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 Wilson Whineray at the All Blacks (archived)
  6. ↑ "No. 42554". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1962. p. 40.
  7. ↑ Meads, Colin; Stone, Andrew (2 October 2010). "Over achiever on and off the paddock". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  8. ↑ "Whineray, Wilson James". The Fairfax Media New Zealand Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  9. ↑ Quinn, Keith (8 June 2011). "Seven All Black knights". One Sport. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  10. 1 2 "Top three new constables go to Auckland area". New Zealand Police. 12 June 2003. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  11. ↑ Small, Vernon (21 August 2011). "Kiwi SAS soldier died saving lives". Sunday Star Times. Retrieved 21 August 2011.
  12. ↑ "Queen's Birthday honours list 1998". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. 1 June 1998. Retrieved 5 July 2020.
  13. ↑ "Past laureates". Business Hall of Fame. Retrieved 19 February 2023.
  14. ↑ Young, Audrey (2 November 2004). "All Black top pick to be Governor-General". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 6 March 2011.
  15. ↑ "Rugby legend finally spills the beans". One News. TVNZ. 12 October 2010. Retrieved 12 March 2011.
  16. ↑ "Notable graves". Purewa Trust Board. Retrieved 15 February 2021.

Further reading

Sporting positions
Preceded by All Blacks Captain
1958–1964		Succeeded by
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.