All Blacks great Stu Wilson, known for his ebullient personality and pioneering play, dies at 70
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Monthly Digital Subscription
$0 for the first 4 weeks*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*No charge for 4 weeks then price increases to the regular rate of $19.00 plus GST every four weeks. Offer available to new and qualified returning subscribers only. Cancel any time.
Monthly Digital Subscription
$4.75/week*
- Enjoy unlimited reading on winnipegfreepress.com
- Read the E-Edition, our digital replica newspaper
- Access News Break, our award-winning app
- Play interactive puzzles
*Billed as $19 plus GST every four weeks. Cancel any time.
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Free Press access to your Brandon Sun subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $16.99 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $23.99 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 08/06/2025 (188 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — Stu Wilson, an elusive All Blacks winger whose playing style reflected his ebullient personality, has died. He was 70.
Wilson’s death was confirmed by New Zealand Rugby, which did not specify a cause. He died in his sleep Sunday at his home in Tauranga on New Zealand’s North Island.
Wilson was a natural joker whose play was many years ahead of its time. He foreshadowed the larger, stronger wingers who are now commonplace but he also had pace, balance and an ability to break tackles.
Wilson scored 19 tries in 35 tests for the All Blacks which, at the time of his retirement, was the all-time record for New Zealand. That included a hat-trick of tries against the British and Irish Lions at Dunedin in 1983.
He captained the All Blacks on their 1983 tour to Britain and formed a brilliant attacking partnership at provincial and international level with his fellow winger and friend Bernie Fraser.
After retiring Wilson became an amusing and popular commentator for television.
David Campese, an ex-Australia winger who made his test debut opposite Wilson in 1982, told Television New Zealand “as a player, Stu made rugby look easy and earned huge respect as captain in 1983.”
“He had a swerve to beat anyone, extreme pace, intellect and power, able to break through tacklers, making him a try-scoring machine.”
___
AP rugby: https://apnews.com/hub/rugby