All Blacks legend Stu Wilson passed away last night, peacefully in his sleep, at the age of 70.

Stuart Sinclair Wilson, known to all as Stu (born 22 July 1954, in Gore) played for Wellington and New Zealand, captaining the New Zealand national team in the 1983 tour of Scotland and England.

He played as a wing for the All Blacks from 1976 to 1983, scoring 50 tries for his country, 19 at Test level, making 34 international appearances, and was pivotal in winning two Lions series, in 1977 and 1983. For his beloved Wellington, he scored 54 tries in 89 matches, totalling 104 first-class tries. He retired in 1984 and later became a rugby commentator for television and radio.

Wilson, known for his humour and extrovert nature, was a player with immense confidence and cheek on the field, making try scoring seem easy.

Gave up smoking

Wilson captained the seniors team at the Wellington College Old Boys Club in the early 1970s, which coincided with him giving up smoking, something he admitted he endured an on/off relationship with for many years! He became a New Zealand Colt in 1975, then played for Wellington B for two games before becoming a permanent member of the Wellington A team. In his first 15 games, Wilson scored 16 tries. He later played for the North Island and in 1976 was selected for the All Blacks B team for the tour of Argentina. Wilson, along with Andy Haden and Graham Mourie, went on to secure places in future All Blacks teams.

He debuted for the All Blacks in 1977 against France in Toulouse aged 23. He played 85 All Black matches, including 34 Tests, scoring 50 tries. His career highlights include nine overseas tours and the 1978 Grand Slam tour, where they defeated Ireland, Wales, England, and Scotland. Due to weaker forward play, the team adopted a 15-man approach, benefiting players like Wilson and Bruce Robertson, who assisted many of Wilson’s tries.

He retired from Test rugby in 1984 whilst at the peak of his powers. His record of 19 Test tries stood until John Kirwan surpassed it in 1988. Wilson played for Wellington from 1975 to 1984, making 89 appearances. He had a notable partnership with fellow wing Bernie Fraser, demonstrating effective teamwork both on and off the field and their partnership worked seamlessly, frequently appearing together on the same side of the field to make the extra man in attack.

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Wilson and Fraser became prominent figures and were widely featured in marketing efforts, alongside the famous Tagline ‘Ebony and Ivory’, the nickname for their famed partnership and the title of his book, but Wilson’s retirement was controversial due to book royalties from Ebony and Ivory breaching IRB (World Rugby) rules.

All-time great David Campese, Wallaby legend, made his Test debut against Wilson and said:

“When I started playing, Stu was the benchmark in world wing play. He was the man we all wanted to be – cocky, clever, blisteringly quick and brilliantly intelligent. 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.



“I made my debut against him in 1982 in the Bledisloe in Christchurch and grabbed my first Test try against him. We became very great pals, playing together in invitation games. I still have his jersey from that first Test match and it’s one of my most cherished possessions as he represented the standard I wanted to attain.

After-dinner speaker

“But it was off the field where Stu really entertained. Without doubt the funniest man I’ve heard in speaking post match, where he’d have opponents and fans in hysterics with things like ‘Stu’s Guide to Maori names – which was absolutely unprintable. His post-match career as a pundit and after-dinner speaker was hilariously funny and his tales would leave the audience rolling with laughter.

“I remember his love affair with smoking; when I played in my first Test at Sydney, the SCG was super intimidating that evening and Stu came out for the anthems with cigarette cupped in hand, puffing away nervously as the crowd sang their hearts out. He was once dropped after quitting, came back better than ever and went on record as saying his improvement in form was wholly down to starting again!

“I will never forget Stu. He was my benchmark, my adversary and also a lifelong mate who I endured as a brilliant opponent and enjoyed as a great mate. RIP my friend, the game is lesser without you.”

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