News | Rugby
11 Dec 2025 10:12
| outlook hotmail | yahoo mail | gmail | news | weather | finance | shopping | about nzcity | Search |
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity
SEARCH 

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
    •    News
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

    •
      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


    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.

    © 2025 Newstalk ZB, NZCity

     Other Rugby News
     11 Dec: Sevu Reece's All Blacks career looks over, after signing with French club Perpignan on a three-year deal
     10 Dec: Belief regional New Zealand deserves test rugby
     09 Dec: New Zealand Rugby are open to early kickoff times and other initiatives to get fans through the gate
     09 Dec: New Zealand Rugby are happy to acknowledge their reasons for giving Eden Park half of the All Blacks' home tests in 2026
     09 Dec: Dunedin appears to have missed out on an All Blacks test for the first time in five years
     08 Dec: The father of Tauranga teen running sensation Sam Ruthe has paid tribute to the long-term record-holder his son has consigned to history
     07 Dec: Kiwi running prodigy Sam Ruthe has comfortably won the national schools 1500 metres title in Hastings
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    Sevu Reece's All Blacks career looks over, after signing with French club Perpignan on a three-year deal More...

    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A new variety of red kiwifruit has been approved for commercialisation More...


     Today's News

    		 Law and Order:
    Police are asking for the public's help, to find a missing woman and her three children aged one, 10 and 12 10:07

     National:
    Why is Trump so obsessed with Venezuela? His new security strategy provides some clues 10:07

     Entertainment:
    Third time is the charm as long-running soap opera Neighbours wraps up, again 10:07

     Entertainment:
    JoJo Siwa is "not in the clear yet" 9:50

     Business:
    A new variety of red kiwifruit has been approved for commercialisation 9:37

     Entertainment:
    Quentin Tarantino has branded Paul Dano "a weak sister" 9:20

     Politics:
    A toxicologist's urging parents not to panic - but suggests children exposed to contaminated coloured sand should be regularly monitored 9:07

     Entertainment:
    Gwyneth Paltrow has branded her husband Brad Falchuk a "Grinch" because he "hates" Christmas 8:50

     Health & Safety:
    A call for better cancer prevention, to prevent a spike in cancer harm 8:47

     Entertainment:
    Netflix have defended their documentary about Sean 'Diddy' Combs after the rapper branded it "a shameful hit piece" 8:20

     News Search




    Power Search

    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd