All Blacks great Wilson Whineray dies

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All Blacks great Wilson Whineray dies

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Whineray played 77 matches for the All Blacks.

22 October,2012 10:18 am

Former All Blacks captain and prominent New Zealand businessman Sir Wilson Whineray died in Auckland early Monday aged 77.Whineray played 77 matches for the All Blacks, was captain for 30 of the 32 Tests he played in the 1950s and 60s and was laterknighted for his services to sport and business.We have lost one of New Zealands great heroes and for the rugby community we have lost a much-loved patron and champion of rugby, said New Zealand Rugby Union chairman Mike Eagle.Regarded as one of the great All Blacks legends, Sir Wilson also made significant contributions to the community through his work withsport, charities and business.Whineray was 21 when he made his Test debut in 1957 and was quickly elevated to the captaincy for the series against Australia the following year. He was at the time the youngest All Blacks captain.He was named New Zealand Sportsman of the Year in 1965 and also won a scholarship to Harvard University where he studied for an MBA in 1967 and 1968.Sir Wilson was a great All Black and may have been the greatest captain we ever had. His business acumen was hugely respected aswell, said Prime Minister John Key.It is fitting that the only biography of Sir Wilson was titled A Perfect Gentleman. He was the rare breed of man whose modesty and humility gave no hint of the greatness he had achieved.Whineray played mostly at prop and led the All Blacks during an era which included other notable names including Colin Meads, Kel Tremain and Ken Gray.Of the 30 Tests he captained, the All Blacks won 23, drew three and lost four.After Whineray retired from rugby in 1966 he continued to have a high public profile. He was chairman of one of New Zealands largest companies, Carter Holt Harvey, for 10 years and sat on the boards of several other companies.