12 Facts About Wilson Whineray

1.

Sir Wilson James Whineray was a New Zealand business executive and rugby union player.

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2.

Wilson Whineray was the longest-serving captain of the national rugby union team, the All Blacks, until surpassed by Richie McCaw in 2014.

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3.

Wilson Whineray played for the South Island, North Island, and New Zealand Universities sides.

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4.

Wilson Whineray went on to play 77 matches for the All Blacks between 1957 and 1965,67 of them as captain.

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5.

Wilson Whineray was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, for services to sport, especially to rugby football, in the 1962 New Year Honours, and he was named New Zealand Sportsperson of the Year in 1965.

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6.

Wilson Whineray returned to New Zealand in 1969 and started work at Alex Harvey Industries, which became Carter Holt Harvey.

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7.

Wilson Whineray 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.

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8.

Wilson Whineray was chairman of the Hillary Commission, a sports funding body, from 1993 to 1998.

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9.

Wilson Whineray was the honorary Colonel Commandant of the New Zealand Special Air Service from 1997 to 2001.

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10.

In November 2004, it was reported that Wilson Whineray was a top contender to replace Dame Silvia Cartwright as Governor-General in 2006.

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11.

Wilson Whineray became the first New Zealander inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame, being elected on 21 October 2007 after a public vote.

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12.

Wilson Whineray was buried at Purewa Cemetery in the Auckland suburb of Meadowbank.

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