October 18, (THEWILL) – Sean Wainui, a winger for the Bay of Plenty Chiefs and the Māori All Blacks, has died in a car accident in the Bay of Plenty.
Around 7.50 a.m., police were called to McLaren Falls Park, near Tauranga, to report a single-vehicle crash. According to a police statement, the vehicle’s sole occupant died at the scene.
The serious crash unit was called to the scene, and the cause of the accident is still being investigated but New Zealand Rugby (NZR) confirmed Wainui’s death on Monday.
Mark Robinson, chief executive of NZR extended all of rugby’s condolences to Wainui’s wife Paige, their children Kawariki and Arahia, and their wider whānau, the Māori-language word for extended family, “on what is a dark day for rugby”.
“Our thoughts are with Sean and his whānau, particularly Paige, Kawariki and Arahia, and we offer them our full support at what is the most difficult of times. We know Sean’s passing will be felt deeply by everyone involved in rugby, particularly his Bay of Plenty and Chiefs teammates, and we share their sorrow and their shock,” Robinson said.
Wainui hailed from the small settlement of Whatatutu near Gisborne. He had ties to Ngāi Tūhoe, Te Āitanga a Māhaki, Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi, and Ngāti Porou and was also a vocal advocate for Te Reo Māori.
Wainui spent most of his childhood in Auckland, where he was captain of the first XV at Takapuna Grammar School. While still a teenager, he made his Taranaki debut in 2014 and signed his first Super Rugby contract with the Crusaders a year later.
Later that year, he made his first appearance for the Māori All Blacks. He made his Chiefs debut against the Crusaders in 2018 and went on to play 53 games for Taranaki before joining Bay of Plenty for the NPC this year.
Wainui, a speedy, elusive outside back, made history in June by becoming the first player in Super Rugby history to score five tries in a match, assisting the Chiefs to a 40-7 win over the Waratahs in their Trans-Tasman season-ending match. In 44 games for the Chiefs, he scored 18 tries.
Clayton McMillan, a former Bay of Plenty coach and Mori All Black, said Wainui was an incredibly talented individual who possessed a lot of mana among his teammates and the wider rugby community.
“He epitomised everything you could possibly ask for in a player. He will be remembered for being a passionate, hard-working, proud Māori who was an exceptional player but more importantly father and husband,” McMillan said.
“He was an influential member in the teams he has been a part of, and his presence will be missed. Our sincere condolences to Paige, Kawariki and Arahia and his wider whānau at this difficult time. We are offering them our full support along with our players and staff.”
Brad Weber and Anton Lienert-Brown, Wainui’s Chiefs teammates, posted emotional tributes from the United States, where they are on tour with the All Blacks.
“Can’t quite put into words how much this one hurts. Always said publicly that Sean deserves everything he gets because he works so hard for it. But he doesn’t deserve this. That first day back at Chiefs HQ next season is gonna hurt walking in and not seeing you there brother. RIP,” Weber posted on Twitter.
“A warrior on the field and one of the great humans off it. My heart hurts. You’ll be missed massively but never forgotten my brother,” Lienert-Brown wrote on Instagram.
Former All Black and Chiefs player Sonny Bill Williams posted on Twitter that his thoughts were with Wainui’s family.
Wainui was 25 years old.
About the Author
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
