RugbyRebels

Not too long ago I mentioned on the old board that I'd seen Stu Wilson in my pub and that he was behaving a bit oddly. Well, he came in again tonight and he is plainly not well.

He was belligerent with the manager who he thought he had met, but it turned out he was thinking of the other co-owner (who looks quite different). I tried to strike up a conversation but he was largely incomprehensible and seemed more interested in starting a "brawl" as he put it with the 45kg junior barman. Then he made some racist comments about the Poneke club before suddenly announcing he had to leave to go to another bar, despite only having about 1/4 of his Guinness.

I'm no expert but I would hazard a guess that alcoholism is only one of his problems.

Very sad to see. I hope he is getting some help.

Was he alone or with a mate(s)?

He was alone. (Mind you by then, so was I)

The bar staff had no idea who he was, by the way. When I told them his name after he left the young guy had no clue, the manager said he thought had heard the name and had a small flash of recognition when I said he was a former great All Black. I guess his All Blacks try-scoring record (19 from 34 tests) had already been beaten by John Kirwan before either of them were born.

Still celebrating the world cup win mate.

It was before my rugby-watching time but wasn't he was still playing as well as ever when he retired in the mid-'80's? Too old in his 30's to make the 1987 RWC squad?

Wilson retired in 1984, and of course Kirwan debuted in 1985, I think.

Spy wrote:Wilson retired in 1984, and of course Kirwan debuted in 1985, I think.

S. Wilson was an All Black from 1977 to 1983 and retired from all rugby in 1984, after captaining the national side for its tour of England and Scotland in late 1983. His retirement had nothing to do with his playing ability and everything to do with the IRB ruling that it was unacceptably professional for players to directly accept royalties for sales of books about rugby they authored. (Wilson refused to adopt the usual dodges other players/authors took to avoid this charge.)

J. Kirwan was considered for selection for the 1983 tour, having been plucked from 3rd grade club rugby to play for Auckland that year. He would not have even turned 19 before the tour and was not selected largely on the grounds of excessive youth. However he could not be overlooked and filled the right wing spot vacated by Wilson in the very next test against the visiting French.