Chiefly a loosehead prop, Whineray also played tighthead and dabbled at No.8 in his distinguished provincial career which aside from Auckland also included Cantebury and Waikato.

After retiring from rugby, he has forged a successful business career and was appointed chairman of the Hillary Commission, the New Zealand government agency responsible for fostering and funding sport and recreation.

Greatest Moment

Named captain in 1958 at the age of just 23 and after just two Tests, Whineray led New Zealand to a 2-1 series win over Australia and, in 30 Tests as captain, New Zealand lost just five.

Interesting Facts

In the final moments of a five month tour around the great rugby grounds of Europe, the All Blacks skipper and prop – in the days when props really did keep their heads down and let the backs do the fancy stuff – suddenly found himself running at the Barbarians centre Kevin Flynn with two team mates outside him. A dummy, a shake of the hips and fifteen or so yards later the uproar started. One of the most popular All Blacks of modern times had touched down for his first try of the trip and soon the curtain would come down on 34 matches. But not before nearly 60,000 Welsh voices had broken out with ‘For he’s a jolly good fellow…’ and a noise that one observer described as ‘making the tower of Babel a quiet country pub at an off-hour compared to the Arms Park.’ It followed him all the way back to the half-way and beyond and when the final whistle went shortly afterwards the crowd engulfed him.

Career Status

1957-1965

Test Caps
Test Points
Test tries
Penalties
Conversions
Drop Goals