News | Rugby

23 Nov 2025 23:56

| outlook hotmail | yahoo mail | gmail | news | weather | finance | shopping | about nzcity | Search |

NZCity News

News

Home > News > Sports > Rugby

One of the greatest characters in New Zealand rugby history has passed away

One of the greatest characters in New Zealand rugby history has passed away

23 March 2025

Former All Black No 8 and coach Alex Wyllie MBE - known universally as Grizz - has died aged 80.

Wylie played 40 matches, including 11 tests, for the All Blacks...and a whopping 210 provincial matches for his beloved Canterbury.

Grizz coached the red-and-blacks to a Ranfurly Shield win in 1982 and his team went on to hold the trophy for a record-equalling three years.

He also coached Canterbury to wins over the British Lions and the Wallabies before becoming assistant coach as the All Blacks won the first-ever Rugby world Cup in 1987.

He was the All Blacks head coach from 1988 to 1991 before John Hart joined him as co-coach for the 1991 World Cup.

>> More Rugby News

Subscribe to NZCity's Rugby articles

© 2025 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

Other Rugby News

23 Nov: The fixtures for next year's Rugby League World Cup have been confirmed, with Christchurch getting the nod to host a double-header on October 25th

23 Nov: A final departing message from All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland after ending his tenure with the national side

23 Nov: Loose forward Wallace Sititi doesn't agree with the critics who reckon the All Blacks' 2025 season was disappointing

23 Nov: All Blacks lock Fabian Holland believes his team can only grow after his first year as a test player

23 Nov: All Blacks coach Scott Robertson plans to mull over how to replace assistant Jason Holland

23 Nov: Wallabies record historic Test loss as France wins 48-33

23 Nov: Captain Scott Barrett is praising the fresh faces for injecting some enthusiasm into the All Blacks for the season-ending 52-26 win over Wales in Cardiff

Top Stories

RUGBY
The fixtures for next year's Rugby League World Cup have been confirmed, with Christchurch getting the nod to host a double-header on October 25th More...

BUSINESS
A Titanic passenger's gold pocket watch has fetched more than $NZ4-million at auction More...

Today's News

Motoring:
F1 Las Vegas Grand Prix: Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris disqualified, Max Verstappen wins 23:17

Business:
A Titanic passenger's gold pocket watch has fetched more than $NZ4-million at auction 21:57

Motorsports:
Disaster for Liam Lawson during the opening lap of Formula One's Las Vegas Grand Prix, on Sky Sport.. 21:17

Health & Safety:
Meta shut down internal research into the mental health effects of Facebook and Instagram after finding causal evidence that its products harmed users' mental health 18:57

Environment:
Tropical cyclone Fina has felled huge trees across northeast parts of Australia in a rampage that residents are glad to see the back of 18:37

Rugby League:
The fixtures for next year's Rugby League World Cup have been confirmed, with Christchurch getting the nod to host a double-header on October 25th 18:07

Soccer:
No excuses from Auckland FC defender Francis de Vries following his side's 1-all draw with the Brisbane Roar at Mt Smart 17:37

Rugby:
A final departing message from All Blacks assistant coach Jason Holland after ending his tenure with the national side 17:37

Cricket:
The England cricket team won't be dwelling on their humbling eight-wicket loss to Australia in the first Ashes test in Perth 17:37

Politics:
Concerns about how workforces will be affected by boosting KiwiSaver contributions further 17:07

News Search

© 2025 New Zealand City Ltd