Born at Gore in 1954 but educated in Masterton, Stu Wilson was a powerful 1.83 metre, 86kg centre or wing. Joining Old Boys in 1973 he was a popular member of the Club. Giving up smoking in 1973 his Rugby career changed dramatically. Doug Catley made him captain of the Seniors, later he was selected for NZ Colts, Wellington, North Island and the All Blacks 1976 tour of Argentina.
Although demands of provincial and national Rugby curtailed his appearances for Old Boys he turned out for the Old Boys Club whenever he could and gave freely of his time to encourage younger players. The day after the 1983 Dunedin Lions test Old Boys had its first Jubilee Cup match. Stu skipped the official test dinner and with some difficulty, switched his air tickets to fly home to play for Old Boys. He scored a try helping Old Boys beat Athletic.
In a distinguished Rugby career he scored more than fifty tries for the All Blacks, Two in his first match wearing the black jersey. For several years his nineteen test tries were an All Black record.
He was only the twelfth man in NZ Rugby history to score more than one hundred first class tries - 104 in total - many of them brilliant, exciting efforts. Stu's record was achieved when coaches concentrated on ten man Rugby with the ball seldom getting to the wings. In some matches Stu only handled the ball three of four times but a try often eventuated.
He was a NZ Colt and in 1975 was selected for Wellington B. After only two games he was a permanent fixture in the representative A side for the next nine years. In his first full season for Wellington Stu scored sixteen tries in fifteen games. Playing 89 first class games for Wellington he was captain during 1981, which included victory over Scotland.
Noted for his sense of humour and light hearted attitude Stu carried this into his play making scoring tries in top Rugby look much easier than it is. Among his entertaining displays was a hat trick of tries against the British Isles at Eden Park in 1983. He also achieved a hat trick there against Scotland in 1981.
Stu wore the All Black jersey 85 times and appeared in 34 tests. He made nine overseas tours, including that with the 1978 Grand Slam team which beat all four Home Unions. He was captain in all eight matches of the 1983 tour of England and Scotland.
Stu Wilson made many friends among international players during his career, which took him to thirteen different Rugby playing countries, so had no difficulty raising an International Invitation XV to play Wellington in his last official match, a fund raiser for the Al Keown Memorial Trust.
He retired from all Rugby, still in his prime in 1984. His retirement was sparked by controversy over a book he co-authored with fellow All Black wing Bernie Fraser. Under IRB rules players were not allowed to accept book royalties. Many had adopted various subterfuges to get round this.
Stu Wilson refused to do so. The Club Management Committee gave him its full backing and repeated its call to the Rugby Union to press for a rule change. In public statement our then Club Chairman asked what the IRB stand would be if Stu's book had been about great golf courses he had played - during Rugby tours. The early retirement was a loss to WCOB and to NZ Rugby.
A real estate agent Stu Wilson also works as a radio and television rugby commentator.
Profile courtesy Dai Hayward and Wellington College Old Boys RFC.
|
|
FULL NAME |
Stuart Sinclair Wilson |
BORN |
Thursday, 22 July 1954 in Gore |
AGE |
56 |
PHYSICAL |
1.83m, 86kg |
POSITION |
Three-quarter |
LAST SCHOOL |
Wairarapa College |
RUGBY CLUB
(First made All Blacks from) |
Wellington COB |
PROVINCE |
Wellington |
ALL BLACK DEBUT |
Saturday, 16 October 1976
v Buenos Aires Selection at Buenos Aires
aged 22 years, 86 days |
INTERNATIONAL DEBUT |
Friday, 11 November 1977
v France at Toulouse
aged 23 years, 112 days |
LAST TEST |
Saturday, 19 November 1983
v England at London
aged 29 years, 120 days |
ALL BLACK TESTS |
34 (2 as Captain) |
ALL BLACK GAMES |
51 (6 as Captain) |
TOTAL ALL BLACK MATCHES |
85 (8 as Captain) |
ALL BLACK TEST POINTS |
76pts (19t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m) |
ALL BLACK GAME POINTS |
124pts (31t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m) |
TOTAL ALL BLACK POINTS |
200pts (50t, 0c, 0p, 0dg, 0m) |
ALL BLACK NUMBER |
772 |
|
The All Black Games that Wilson played.
(+) = substitute; (-) = replaced |
|
Click on the date to be taken to the Match Card |
|
|
1976 |
16 Oct vs Buenos Aires Selection at Buenos Aires 24-13 |
20 Oct vs Interior Selection at Cordoba 30-13 |
23 Oct vs Club Athletico San Isidro at Buenos Aires 37-3 |
30 Oct vs Argentina at Buenos Aires 21-9 |
3 Nov vs Rosario at Rosario 43-4 |
6 Nov vs Argentina at Buenos Aires 26-6 |
1977 |
22 Oct vs Italian President's XV at Padua 17-9 |
29 Oct vs French Selection at Lyon 12-10 |
1 Nov vs French Selection at Perpignan 12-6 |
5 Nov vs French Selection at Agen 34-12 |
11 Nov vs France at Toulouse 13-18 |
15 Nov vs French Selection Angouleme at Angouleme 30-3 |
19 Nov vs France at Paris 15-3 |
1978 |
19 Aug vs Australia at Wellington 13-12 |
26 Aug vs Australia at Christchurch 22-6 |
9 Sep vs Australia at Auckland 16-30 |
21 Oct vs Cardiff at Cardiff 17-7 |
25 Oct vs West Wales at Swansea 23-7 |
31 Oct vs Munster at Limerick 0-12 |
4 Nov vs Ireland at Dublin 10-6 |
11 Nov vs Wales at Cardiff 13-12 |
15 Nov vs South and South-West Counties at Bristol 20-0 (+) |
18 Nov vs Midland Counties at Leicester 20-15 |
25 Nov vs England at London 16-6 |
29 Nov vs Monmouthshire at Newport 26-9 |
2 Dec vs North of England at Birkenhead 9-6 |
9 Dec vs Scotland at Edinburgh 18-9 |
16 Dec vs Barbarians at Cardiff 18-16 |
1979 |
7 Jul vs France at Christchurch 23-9 |
14 Jul vs France at Auckland 19-24 |
24 Jul vs Queensland B at Brisbane 35-3 |
28 Jul vs Australia at Sydney 6-12 |
24 Oct vs London Division at London 21-18 |
27 Oct vs South of Scotland at Hawick 19-3 |
31 Oct vs Edinburgh at Edinburgh 16-4 |
3 Nov vs Midland Division at Leicester 33-7 |
6 Nov vs Glasgow at Glasgow 12-6 |
10 Nov vs Scotland at Edinburgh 20-6 |
17 Nov vs Northern Division at Otley 9-21 |
24 Nov vs England at London 10-9 |
28 Nov vs Italy at Rovigo 18-12 |
1980 |
31 May vs Sydney at Sydney 13-13 |
4 Jun vs South Australia at Adelaide 75-3 |
7 Jun vs Victoria at Melbourne 45-6 |
14 Jun vs N.S.W. at Sydney 12-4 |
16 Jun vs N.S.W. Country at Newcastle 34-3 |
21 Jun vs Australia at Sydney 9-13 |
6 Jul vs Queensland at Brisbane 3-9 |
16 Jul vs Nadroga at Lautoka 14-6 |
19 Jul vs Suva at Suva 33-4 |
8 Oct vs USA at San Diego 53-6 |
11 Oct vs Canada at Vancouver 43-10 |
21 Oct vs Llanelli at Llanelli 16-10 |
25 Oct vs Swansea at Swansea 32-0 |
28 Oct vs Newport at Newport 14-3 |
1 Nov vs Wales at Cardiff 23-3 |
1981 |
13 Jun vs Scotland at Dunedin 11-4 |
20 Jun vs Scotland at Auckland 40-15 |
15 Aug vs South Africa at Christchurch 14-9 (-) |
29 Aug vs South Africa at Wellington 12-24 |
12 Sep vs South Africa at Auckland 25-22 |
24 Oct vs Romania at Bucharest 14-6 |
28 Oct vs Alsace-Lorraine Selection at Strasbourg 15-13 |
31 Oct vs Auvergne Selection at Clermont-Ferrand 18-10 |
4 Nov vs Alpes Selection at Grenoble 16-18 (+) |
7 Nov vs French Barbarians at Bayonne 28-18 |
14 Nov vs France at Toulouse 13-9 |
17 Nov vs Charentes-Poitou Selection at La Rochelle 17-13 |
21 Nov vs France at Paris 18-6 |
1982 |
14 Aug vs Australia at Christchurch 23-16 |
28 Aug vs Australia at Wellington 16-19 |
11 Sep vs Australia at Auckland 33-18 |
1983 |
4 Jun vs British & Irish Lions at Christchurch 16-12 |
18 Jun vs British & Irish Lions at Wellington 9-0 |
2 Jul vs British & Irish Lions at Dunedin 15-8 |
16 Jul vs British & Irish Lions at Auckland 38-6 |
20 Aug vs Australia at Sydney 18-8 |
26 Oct vs Edinburgh at Edinburgh 22-6 (Captain) |
29 Oct vs South of Scotland at Galashiels 30-9 (Captain) |
2 Nov vs Northern Division at Gateshead 27-21 (Captain) |
5 Nov vs London Division at London 18-15 (Captain) |
8 Nov vs Midland Division at Leicester 13-19 (Captain) |
12 Nov vs Scotland at Edinburgh 25-25 (Captain) |
15 Nov vs South and South-West Counties at Bristol 18-6 (Captain) |
19 Nov vs England at London 9-15 (Captain) |
|
Points scored for the All Blacks |
|
t |
c |
p |
dg |
pts |
vs Buenos Aires Selection, 16 Oct 1976 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
8 |
vs Argentina, 30 Oct 1976 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Rosario, 3 Nov 1976 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs French Selection, 1 Nov 1977 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs French Selection, 5 Nov 1977 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs French Selection Angouleme, 15 Nov 1977 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs France, 19 Nov 1977 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Australia, 26 Aug 1978 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Australia, 9 Sep 1978 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Cardiff, 21 Oct 1978 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
8 |
vs West Wales, 25 Oct 1978 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
8 |
vs Wales, 11 Nov 1978 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs France, 7 Jul 1979 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs France, 14 Jul 1979 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Queensland B, 24 Jul 1979 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs South of Scotland, 27 Oct 1979 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Scotland, 10 Nov 1979 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Northern Division, 17 Nov 1979 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs South Australia, 4 Jun 1980 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
8 |
vs Victoria, 7 Jun 1980 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs N.S.W., 14 Jun 1980 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Suva, 19 Jul 1980 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
8 |
vs USA, 8 Oct 1980 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Canada, 11 Oct 1980 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Swansea, 25 Oct 1980 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
8 |
vs Newport, 28 Oct 1980 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Scotland, 13 Jun 1981 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Scotland, 20 Jun 1981 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
12 |
vs South Africa, 15 Aug 1981 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs South Africa, 12 Sep 1981 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs French Barbarians, 7 Nov 1981 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
8 |
vs France, 14 Nov 1981 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs Charentes-Poitou Selection, 17 Nov 1981 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs France, 21 Nov 1981 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs British & Irish Lions, 2 Jul 1983 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
vs British & Irish Lions, 16 Jul 1983 |
3 |
- |
- |
- |
12 |
vs South of Scotland, 29 Oct 1983 |
2 |
- |
- |
- |
8 |
vs South and South-West Counties, 15 Nov 1983 |
1 |
- |
- |
- |
4 |
|
Totals |
50 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
200 |
|
|
