Former All Black Stu Wilson has been remembered as a good friend and a hard worker by a former colleague at Tauranga Hospital.
It was confirmed today the former captain and winger died peacefully in his sleep over the weekend aged 70.
Regional team leader Bruce Raynel told 1News Wilson joined the Tauranga Hospital orderly team in 2021 following a stint in the hospital related to his heart.
Dashing test winger held many roles in life beyond his rugby days, including hosting a sports bar and, more latterly, as a hospital orderly. (Source: 1News)
“Stuey, fair dinkum, he wanted a job. He wanted to pay back to some of the heart specialists that saved his life and he thought the best way to do it was to become an orderly,” said Raynel.
“We were a bit hesitant to start with because an All Black, in a hospital, people are going to get to know him so he’s going to get delayed from bringing jobs back and we’re going to be wondering where he is. But old Stuey, he was good.
“He would stop and have a quick chat with people, but he’d also say ‘no I’ve got to get to my next job’.”
Wilson was ‘good value’
Raynel described Wilson, who finished up at the hospital late last year, as a good orderly who did what was asked of him, without question and “got on and did the job that he had to do”.
“He was good value, and he mixed with everybody. Staff, patients and especially the guys in the lodge.”
Rarnel said it was “pretty special” to have hired an All Black.
Wilson controversially retired from rugby while still in his prime after co-authoring the book Ebony and Ivory alongside fellow winger Bernie Fraser, which went against rugby’s governing rules at the time.
“One of the staff actually said they had the book Ebony and Ivory that him and Bernie Fraser put together. And this person didn’t have their book signed, and I had one that wasn’t signed as well. And Stuey said, ‘well bring them in and I’ll send them to Bernie and get him to autograph them for you’.”
Little did the staff know Fraser was based in Perth at the time and Wilson had the books sent all the way there to be signed.
“It was pretty hard case. Nah he was a good man alright. Good fun having him around.”
Donuts, coffee and anecdotes
Raynel shared some other warm memories and personal quirks of Wilson’s, including his love of donuts and good quality coffee.
“He’s called back a few times for a coffee and a donut. Donuts was his thing. He’d buy donuts on his way home for work. He’d buy three. One for himself on the way home, one for when he got home so one for his wife and one for him.”
Raynel said he was particular about his coffee and had his own plunger.
“Stu said at the interview that it wasn’t about the money or things like that, he just wanted to give back to an environment that helped him along the way and gave him a few extra years to live after the cardiac problem he had.”
Raynel said there were many people who recognised him for his All Black fame – staff and patients alike.
“He didn’t want a leadership role with us, because the only time he was ever the leader of the All Blacks, they lost,” he laughed.
