RIP Sean Wainui
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Comments by Neil Barnes.
"When I broke the news the whole crew was shattered," Taranaki coach and Chiefs assistant Neil Barnes has told NZME. "We'll take time to digest this and talk about how we can best show our respect to him and his family.
"He is so respected by everybody - probably one of the most popular and respected people in our team, without doubt.
"He's such a good person, so this is tragic. He's a really good community and family man.
"I feel so sorry for his partner. He's got a young one as well - it's terrible for their whole family."
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October 18, 2021
RUGBY MOURNS THE PASSING OF SEAN WAINUI
Paiahaha! Paiahaha!
Kua hinga he totara haemata i roto i te wao nui o whutupōro Aotearoa. E te rangatira e Sean, haere ki ngā ringa tūwhera o te tini me te mano ki tua o Paerau. Waiho mātou ki muri nei i roto i te roimata me te hupe e rere ana mōu e hika. E moe, e moe, okioki ai.Attention! Attention!
One of Rugby New Zealand’s tallest totara trees has fallen in the world of rugby. To you Sean, our Rangatira, we farewell you to the outspread arms of the multitudes who await you beyond this earthly realm. You leave us here bereft and drown in sorrow as we weep for you. Rest well in peaceful repose.
Our club & New Zealand Rugby (NZR) are in mourning today following the tragic death of Sean Wainui in an early morning car accident.
Head Coach Clayton McMillan said:
“Sean was an incredibly talented individual and held a great amount of mana among his fellow 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.
“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.”
CEO Mark Robinson has extended all of rugby’s condolences to Wainui’s wife Paige, their children Kawariki and Arahia, and their wider whānau 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.
“We ask that media give the Wainui whānau space to grieve as we all reflect on a young life that has ended far too early.”
New Zealand Māori Rugby Board Chair Farah Palmer said:
“Today rugby is mourning one of our Rangatira, but our first thoughts are with Sean’s whānau. They have lost a father, a husband, a brother and a son and we share their grief and their tears.
“As a player we all saw what this young tane was capable of and the passion and talent that he brought to the teams he represented, but we also saw a role model for young Māori, a caring father who was passionate about his culture, his language, and his identity. He will be sorely missed.”
Wainui, who was 25, was one of New Zealand’s brightest stars on and off the field having carved out a career that included representing the Māori All Blacks, Chiefs, Crusaders, Taranaki and Bay of Plenty with distinction.
Of Ngāi Tūhoe, Ngāti Porou, Ngā Ariki Kaipūtahi and Te Āitanga a Māhaki iwi, he was a vocal advocate for Te Reo Māori, proud of his Māori heritage and especially passionate about his whānau.
Wainui was born in the small settlement of Whatatutu near Gisborne and raised in Auckland before attending Takapuna Grammar School where he was a stand-out as captain of the first XV before making his debut for Taranaki in 2014, while still a teenager. A year later he won the Junior World Championship with the New Zealand Under 20 team, earned his first Super Rugby contract with the Crusaders, and represented the Māori All Blacks for the first time.
He joined the Chiefs in 2018 and became a fan favourite either in the midfield or on the wing where he broke the record for number of tries in a Super Rugby game with five against the Waratahs earlier this year. This season he had joined Bay of Plenty for the Bunnings NPC.
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Sean would be one of nicest young men i have had the privledge of interviewing during my time as a contractor at NZME, so respectful and so much mana within the NZ Rugby community.
Always gave you his time ,the memories i have of this young man are so clear it was like it happened yesterday ..
His mihi to Ross Wright when the Northland prop played his 100th game was sensational, beautifully fluent in Te Reo Māori , you could have heard a pin drop while Sean addressed the room.
And being good friends with his dad Peter brings it home even more so having watched this young man grow up to be a special individual.
Gone far too soon.Me Ōku whakaaro ki te whānau pani i tēnei wa pōuri .
Me te aroha tino nui atu,moe mai ra e Sean🙏🏼 -
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GALLAGHER CHIEFS AND BAY OF PLENTY STEAMERS JOINT STATEMENT ON THE PASSING OF SEAN WAINUI
The Gallagher Chiefs and Bay of Plenty Steamers would like to jointly express their sincere condolences and deep sorrow at the tragic passing of Sean Wainui.
Gallagher Chiefs CEO Mike Collins said the thoughts and support of players and staff at both organisations were with Sean’s wife Paige, children Kawariki and Arahia, and their wider whānau.
“We are all thinking of Sean’s whānau as we collectively deal with what has been a massive shock for the players and staff of the Chiefs,” Collins said.
“Sean has been a hugely popular and influential figure at the Chiefs and a role model for our young players on and off the field since he came to the club in 2018. Our club will not be the same without him and he will be sorely missed by us all.”
Bay of Plenty Rugby CEO Mike Rogers said: “A time will come when we can celebrate Sean’s immense contribution to rugby, but our priority right now is supporting Sean’s wife and children as best we can at what is an extremely difficult time. Although Sean hadn’t been with Bay of Plenty for long, he had made a huge impression on everyone and stamped his influence and personality on our environment on and off the field.” -
still shocked! a man of Mana. RIP Sean
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https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10159751026902210&id=44646322209
A little tribute video the Chiefs put together.
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@steven-harris said in RIP Sean Wainui:
Sean would be one of nicest young men i have had the privledge of interviewing during my time as a contractor at NZME, so respectful and so much mana within the NZ Rugby community.
Always gave you his time ,the memories i have of this young man are so clear it was like it happened yesterday ..
His mihi to Ross Wright when the Northland prop played his 100th game was sensational, beautifully fluent in Te Reo Māori , you could have heard a pin drop while Sean addressed the room.
And being good friends with his dad Peter brings it home even more so having watched this young man grow up to be a special individual.
Gone far too soon.Me Ōku whakaaro ki te whānau pani i tēnei wa pōuri .
Me te aroha tino nui atu,moe mai ra e Sean🙏🏼Great post bro.
Aroha and prayers to his whanau.
I remember watching him in that pretty talented u20s team that won the juniors World Cup in 2015.
I was excited when the Saders picked him up given he had good size and could play a bit of wing and centre. For whatever reason it didn’t work out and he found a home with the Chiefs and his game took a step up.
