Despite widespread speculation about a first wife, all official records point to a single family for All Blacks legend Stu Wilson. The 70-year-old, who died in June 2025, was remembered as a devoted husband to Sue and father to Kristy and Livvy.
Born: 22 July 1954 ·
Died: 8 June 2025 ·
Age at Death: 70 ·
All Black Number: 772 ·
Wife: Sue ·
Children: Kristy and Livvy
Quick snapshot
- Wife Sue and two daughters, Kristy and Livvy (The New Zealand Herald (New Zealand death notices))
- Born 22 July 1954, died 8 June 2025, aged 70 (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced encyclopedia))
- All Black #772, 34 Tests, 51 tries in black jersey (New Zealand Rugby (national governing body))
- Cause of death not publicly stated (RNZ (public broadcaster))
- Existence of a first wife — none confirmed in any primary record (The New Zealand Herald (death notices))
- Worked as orderly at Tauranga Hospital — reported by a single secondary source (RNZ)
- Daughter Livvy’s athletic achievements — based on Wikipedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia (Wikipedia)
- Stepchildren Chaslin, Gareth, and Caerwyn — listed in a SunLive death notice but not in primary obituary (SunLive (local news outlet))
- 22 July 1954 — Born in New Zealand (Wikipedia)
- 1975 — All Black debut (New Zealand Rugby)
- 8 June 2025 — Died peacefully at 70 (Reuters (international news agency))
- Family will continue to be remembered through legacy tributes (New Zealand Rugby)
- Daughter Livvy Wilson, an accomplished sprinter, continues her athletics career (Wikipedia)
Seven key facts, one pattern: every official record of Stu Wilson’s life points to the same family structure—wife Sue and two daughters, with no trace of a previous marriage.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Stuart Sinclair Wilson |
| Born | 22 July 1954 |
| Died | 8 June 2025 |
| All Black Number | 772 |
| Position | Wing / Centre |
| Wife | Sue |
| Children | Kristy and Livvy |
Did Stu Wilson Have a Wife and Kids?
Yes. Stu Wilson was married to Sue, as confirmed by the The New Zealand Herald (death notices) and SunLive (local news outlet). The couple had two daughters, Kristy and Livvy. A SunLive death notice also listed Wilson as stepfather to Chaslin, Gareth, and Caerwyn, though this detail comes from a less authoritative source. No public record—neither the New Zealand Herald obituary nor any other official death notice—mentions a previous wife.
Who Is Stu Wilson’s Daughter?
- Livvy Wilson is an accomplished sprinter who has medalled in the 100 m and 200 m at the New Zealand Athletics Championships (Wikipedia (crowd-sourced biographical data)).
- She won gold with the Auckland 4 × 100 metres relay team and was part of a New Zealand women’s 4 × 100 m relay team that broke the national record on 4 June 2022 in Mackay, Queensland (Wikipedia).
- Kristy Wilson, the older daughter, is less publicly documented but is named alongside Livvy in the family’s official death notice (The New Zealand Herald).
The persistent rumor of a first wife appears to be a misconception. All official records—from the New Zealand Herald, SunLive, and New Zealand Rugby—point to Sue as Wilson’s only wife. For anyone searching for a “first wife,” the answer is clear: there is no evidence one existed.
The implication: every primary source aligns, making the rumor unsupported.
Was Stu Wilson an Orderly at Tauranga Hospital?
Yes. After his rugby career, Stu Wilson worked as an orderly at Tauranga Hospital. A colleague described him as “a good man” in a RNZ (public broadcaster) report from his funeral. The hospital role was a quiet second act for a man who had been a national hero, and it reflects the grounded life he led after retiring from the game.
This detail is notable because it shows Wilson chose a low-profile community job rather than a media or coaching career. The same RNZ article notes that mourners remembered him as humble and approachable.
Though reported by RNZ, the orderly role is not mentioned in any primary obituary, leaving its verification to a single secondary source.
The implication: Wilson’s post-rugby identity was deliberately ordinary, which may explain why misconceptions about his family life have persisted—there just wasn’t a public persona to correct them.
How Old Was Stu Wilson?
Stu Wilson was born on 22 July 1954, according to Wikipedia and New Zealand Rugby. He died on 8 June 2025, just weeks shy of his 71st birthday. That made him 70 years old at the time of his death, a fact confirmed by Reuters (international news agency) and the New Zealand Herald.
For comparison, the average life expectancy for a New Zealand male in 2024 was 80 years. Wilson’s passing at 70, while not unusually young, came after a life marked by physical peak and then quiet service.
Birth and death dates are corroborated by three independent tier‑1 and tier‑2 sources, making age the most solid piece of biographical data.
What this means: the age aligns with a typical retirement timeline—he played his last All Black test at 29, then lived four decades of private life beyond the spotlight.
Why Did Stu Wilson Retire?
Wilson retired from rugby in 1983 at the age of 29. The primary reason was a series of injuries that ended his playing career. New Zealand Rugby notes that he was the first wing to captain the All Blacks, leading the 1983 tour of Scotland and England before stepping away. Planet Rugby (rugby news site) reported that he had dealt with persistent shoulder and knee problems.
His retirement was not a gradual fade—it was a forced stop. According to RNZ, he played his final test against England in November 1983 and announced his retirement soon after. The injuries were severe enough that he never returned to the sport professionally.
Injury‑driven retirement is consistently reported across multiple outlets, giving this explanation high confidence.
The trade-off: Wilson chose long-term health over a few more seasons. That decision allowed him to work a physical job at Tauranga Hospital and raise his family without the toll of elite rugby.
What Happened to Stu Wilson?
Stu Wilson died peacefully in his sleep on 8 June 2025 at his home in Tauranga, according to family statements reported by The New Zealand Herald. The cause of death was not specified in the obituary, a decision the family made private. RNZ reported that a funeral was held in Tauranga, with hundreds of mourners including former teammates and rugby officials.
New Zealand Rugby issued a formal tribute, calling him a “try-scoring sensation” and a “legend of the game” (New Zealand Rugby (governing body)). Reuters also covered the news, noting his captaincy and try-scoring records (Reuters).
The peaceful nature of his death is a family statement; no cause has been independently confirmed.
For those searching for his legacy, the answer is straightforward: he died surrounded by family, with his rugby achievements and his later work as a hospital orderly forming two halves of a life well lived.
Timeline: Stu Wilson’s Life and Death
- 22 July 1954 — Born in New Zealand (Wikipedia)
- 1973 — Debut for Wellington rugby team (Wikipedia)
- 1975 — All Black debut (number 772) (New Zealand Rugby)
- 1983 — Retired from rugby due to injuries (New Zealand Rugby)
- 8 June 2025 — Died peacefully at age 70 (Reuters)
The timeline shows that Wilson’s rugby career was relatively short but impactful, with four decades of quiet life afterward.
Confirmed vs. Unclear
Confirmed facts
- Wife Sue (The New Zealand Herald)
- Daughters Kristy and Livvy (The New Zealand Herald)
- Born 22 July 1954 (Wikipedia)
- Died 8 June 2025, age 70 (New Zealand Rugby)
- All Black #772, 34 Tests, 51 tries (New Zealand Rugby)
What’s unclear
- Cause of death (not publicly stated) (RNZ)
- Existence of a first wife (none confirmed) (The New Zealand Herald)
- Worked as orderly at Tauranga Hospital (single secondary source) (RNZ)
- Daughter Livvy’s athletic achievements (based on crowd‑sourced Wikipedia) (Wikipedia)
- Stepchildren Chaslin, Gareth, and Caerwyn (only in SunLive notice) (SunLive)
Quotes from Tributes
“Beloved husband of Sue, much-loved father of Kristy and Livvy.”
— Family statement, The New Zealand Herald obituary
“Mourning the passing of former All Black captain and try-scoring sensation.”
— New Zealand Rugby official tribute
“A good man.”
— Tauranga Hospital colleague, reported by RNZ
For those researching Stu Wilson’s family, the evidence is consistent: one wife, two daughters, and no trace of a previous marriage. The “first wife” question appears to be a misunderstanding fueled by fragmented online searches. For anyone searching for answers, the Births Deaths and Marriages New Zealand (official records) and Death Notices Wellington NZ (obituary aggregator) provide further avenues to verify.
pacificbrief.nz, instagram.com, planetrugby.com, nzherald.co.nz, msn.com, linkedin.com
For those curious about the personal life of the All Black legend, details about Stu Wilsons first wife offer a comprehensive look at his family and career.
Frequently asked questions
Did Stu Wilson have a first wife?
No. All official records—including the New Zealand Herald obituary and SunLive death notice—list only Sue as his wife. There is no public evidence of a previous marriage.
What was Stu Wilson’s cause of death?
The family did not publicly disclose the cause. The obituary states he “passed away peacefully in his sleep.”
Where did Stu Wilson live after rugby?
He lived in Tauranga, New Zealand, where he worked as an orderly at Tauranga Hospital.
How many tries did Stu Wilson score for the All Blacks?
He scored 51 tries in the black jersey, including 19 in Tests, according to New Zealand Rugby.
Did Stu Wilson have a son?
No. His children are daughters Kristy and Livvy. A SunLive notice also lists stepchildren, but no biological sons.
What is Stu Wilson’s legacy in New Zealand rugby?
He is remembered as a try-scoring wing and the first wing to captain the All Blacks, with 34 Tests and 85 appearances for the national side.
Was Stu Wilson ever married before Sue?
No public record of a prior marriage exists. The New Zealand Herald obituary and all death notices refer only to Sue.