Wilson Whineray
Encyclopedia
Sir Wilson James Whineray, KNZM
, OBE
(born 10 July 1935) is a former business executive and the longest-serving captain of the All Blacks
, New Zealand's national rugby union
team. Rugby writer T.P. (Terry) McLean considered him the All Blacks' greatest captain.
He first played for the All Blacks in 1957. The following year he became captain for the 1958 series against Australia at the young age of 23. He went on to play 77 matches for the All Blacks between 1957 and 1965, 67 of them as captain. These included 32 test match
es, all but two of them as captain. He played mostly in the position of prop. Whineray was named New Zealand Sportsperson of the Year in 1965.
After retiring from rugby, he gained a MBA
from Harvard University
, where he was a member of the Harvard Business School RFC
. He returned to New Zealand in 1969 and started work at Alex Harvey Industries, which became Carter Holt Harvey
. He 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. He was the managing director of NZ Wool Marketing Corporation in 1973–74, chairman of the National Bank of New Zealand
, and a director of Auckland International Airport and APN News & Media
.
He was chairman of the Hillary Commission, a sports funding body, from 1993 to 1998. He was the honorary Colonel Commandant of the New Zealand Special Air Service from 1997 to 2001.
In November 2004, it was reported that Whineray was a top contender to replace Dame Silvia Cartwright
as Governor-General
in 2006. Bob Howitt has said that, "had he allowed his name to go forward, he would have become the Governor General".
Whineray was knighted in 1998 "for services to sport and business management". He became the first New Zealander inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame
, being elected on 21 October 2007 (following the IRB
World Cup in France) after a public vote.
New Zealand Order of Merit
The New Zealand Order of Merit is an order established in 1996 "for those persons who in any field of endeavour, have rendered meritorious service to the Crown and nation or who have become distinguished by their eminence, talents, contributions or other merits."The order includes five...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(born 10 July 1935) is a former business executive and the longest-serving captain of the All Blacks
All Blacks
The New Zealand men's national rugby union team, known as the All Blacks, represent New Zealand in what is regarded as its national sport....
, New Zealand's national rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
team. Rugby writer T.P. (Terry) McLean considered him the All Blacks' greatest captain.
He first played for the All Blacks in 1957. The following year he became captain for the 1958 series against Australia at the young age of 23. He went on to play 77 matches for the All Blacks between 1957 and 1965, 67 of them as captain. These included 32 test match
Test match (rugby union)
Test match in rugby union is a match recognised as being a full international match by at least one of the participating teams' governing bodies. It is an unofficial but widely used term in the sport....
es, all but two of them as captain. He played mostly in the position of prop. Whineray was named New Zealand Sportsperson of the Year in 1965.
After retiring from rugby, he gained a MBA
Master of Business Administration
The Master of Business Administration is a :master's degree in business administration, which attracts people from a wide range of academic disciplines. The MBA designation originated in the United States, emerging from the late 19th century as the country industrialized and companies sought out...
from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
, where he was a member of the Harvard Business School RFC
Harvard Business School RFC
The Harvard Business School RFC is a rugby union team based at Harvard Business School in Boston, Massachusetts. The club competes in the New England Rugby Football Union and is composed of graduate students from throughout Harvard University.-History:...
. He returned to New Zealand in 1969 and started work at Alex Harvey Industries, which became Carter Holt Harvey
Carter Holt Harvey
Carter Holt Harvey Limited is an Australasian forest products company, with significant interests in wood products, pulp, paper and packaging. The company employs approximately 10,500 people across Australasia. Carter Holt Harvey's head New Zealand office is located at 173 Captain Springs Road in...
. He 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. He was the managing director of NZ Wool Marketing Corporation in 1973–74, chairman of the National Bank of New Zealand
National Bank of New Zealand
The National Bank of New Zealand often referred to as The National Bank is one of New Zealand's largest banks. Throughout much of its history, the National Bank has provided banking services to mainly rural, personal, and small business customers. Its owner is ANZ National Bank Limited, the New...
, and a director of Auckland International Airport and APN News & Media
APN News & Media
APN News & Media Limited is an Australian and New Zealand media company. Divisions include newspaper publishing, online publishing, broadcast radio and outdoor advertising in Australia and New Zealand...
.
He was chairman of the Hillary Commission, a sports funding body, from 1993 to 1998. He was the honorary Colonel Commandant of the New Zealand Special Air Service from 1997 to 2001.
In November 2004, it was reported that Whineray was a top contender to replace Dame Silvia Cartwright
Silvia Cartwright
Dame Silvia Rose Cartwright, PCNZM, DBE, QSO, DStJ was the 18th Governor-General of New Zealand.She is a graduate of the University of Otago, where she gained her LL.B degree in 1967, and a former student at Otago Girls' High School.- Public life and family :In 1989, she became the first female...
as Governor-General
Governor-General of New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand is the representative of the monarch of New Zealand . The Governor-General acts as the Queen's vice-regal representative in New Zealand and is often viewed as the de facto head of state....
in 2006. Bob Howitt has said that, "had he allowed his name to go forward, he would have become the Governor General".
Whineray was knighted in 1998 "for services to sport and business management". He became the first New Zealander inducted into the IRB Hall of Fame
IRB Hall of Fame
The IRB Hall of Fame is a hall of fame operated by the International Rugby Board that recognises special achievement and contribution to the sport of rugby union. The IRB Hall of Fame covers players, coaches, administrators, match officials, institutions and other individuals...
, being elected on 21 October 2007 (following the IRB
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
World Cup in France) after a public vote.
All Blacks statistics
- Tests: 32 (30 as captain)
- Games: 45 (37 as captain)
- Total matches: 77 (67 as captain)
- Test points: 6 (2 tries)
- Game points: 18 (5 tries, 1 dropped goal)
- Total points: 24 (7 tries, 1 dropped goal)
Further reading
- Howitt, Bob (2010). A perfect gentleman : Sir Wilson Whineray. Auckland : Harper Collins New Zealand.