(1935– ).

Rugby footballer.

Wilson James Whineray was born on 10 July 1935 at Auckland and educated at Auckland Grammar School, Massey Agricultural College, and Lincoln Agricultural College. He was selected for Wairarapa in 1953 and, in the years since, has represented six provinces, the North and South Islands, the South African and New Zealand Barbarians, and the All Blacks in more than 200 first-class matches. He first represented New Zealand in 1955 when he visited Ceylon with the “Colts” team. In 1957 he was selected for the All Blacks, playing for them in successive seasons until 1965. He captained the Junior All Blacks team which toured Japan in 1958 and has led the All Blacks to victory in tests against Australia, the British Isles, England, France, Ireland, South Africa, and Wales. Whineray set a record of 28 appearances for New Zealand in consecutive test matches. At the close of the 1965 season Whineray announced his retirement from international and interprovincial rugby. In all, between 1957 and 1965, Whineray played 32 tests for New Zealand and captained the All Blacks in 30 of these. His test record is: v. Australia 1957 (2); v. Australia 1958 (3); v. British Isles 1959 (4); v. South Africa 1960 (4); v. France 1961 (3); v. Australia 1962 (5); v. England 1963 (2); v. Ireland 1963 (1); v. Wales 1963 (1); v. England 1964 (1); v. Scotland 1964 (1); v. France 1964 (1); v. South Africa 1965 (4). Whineray has also played for numerous invitation teams including those that took part in the South African Rugby Jubilee celebrations in 1964. His final test appearance on 18 September 1965 was his 234th game in first-class rugby.

Whineray's first-class record in detail is: Wairarapa 3 games; mid-Canterbury 9; Manawatu 7; Canterbury 16; Waikato 7; Auckland 58; New Zealand Barbarians 1; South African Barbarians 1; South African Jubilee Games 3; Centurions 2; Whineray's XV 1; North Island Colts 1; Japan Tour Trial 1; South Island Universities 2; North Island Universities 1; New Zealand Universities 4; Black XV 1; New Zealand Colts 8; New Zealand under-23 9; New Zealand Trials 15; a New Zealand XV 1; South Island 1; North Island 6; New Zealand 76. Total 234.

In November 1965, at a function on behalf of the Murray Halberg Trust for Crippled Children, Whineray received the “Sportsman of the Year” trophy. He was awarded the O.B.E. in 1962.