I’m shocked. I sat in my car for half an hour after reading on Twitter what had happened…. I couldn’t shake the sinking feeling… On Monday the 18th of October 2021, Sean Wainui, the Bay Of Plenty Steamer, Taranaki Bull, Chief, Crusader and Maori All Black passed away after being involved in a car crash near Tauranga. I never met or knew Sean, but this tragedy has hit myself more than I expected and crushed more then just the rugby community. This is my views of how this passionate character has had more effect than I would ever imagine. It makes you think….. and these are my thoughts…. no editing, straight off the top…. (No offence or taking away from the tragedy intended. Things need talked about…)
THE RUGBY PLAYER
This is how I knew Sean, the rugby player for Bay Of Plenty, Taranaki, Chiefs, Crusaders and Maori All Blacks. I was surprised Sean was just 25 years old. He’s been a constant at Super Rugby level for a number of years now and started out with the Crusaders while still in his teens. I’ll be honest here, Wainui was a player I never really rated as more than a good Super level player. I cringed at the constant times people suggested he was ready for higher honours in the black jersey. A lot of those “better options” came and went but one thing stayed the same and that was Wainui.
Wainui was one of those players who would be easy to talk away his impact in the game beforehand but I’d be scared shitless in the back of my mind when he came up against my team. I knew all too well just what he was capable of a how easy he could just produce something special in any backline if they gave him the ball. Even with a comfortable lead, it never sat right with a player like Wainui on the field. The score was irrelevant, his performances showed the pride of the jersey was always worth the fight.
You can talk about the pace, agility and power of the man, but the real asset he carried was determination and passion. No matter the score or situation it was 150% commitment and then some on top of that. Nothing was too much or too far and like I’ll talk about later, his leadership in the Chiefs culture was imperative. The Chiefs went through tough spells in the last couple of years but there was never any give up in a squad with that kind of off the field leader.
Taking the bad times with the good, remember Sean Wainui became the first player in Super Rugby history to score 5 tries in a single match. Maybe his best was just around the corner. Boy that’s tough to think of now….
I feel Sean was a confident character with a unique personality. He was never shy of showing his proud heritage and always stood out on the field with his hairstyles. He was the true description of a Chief and rightfully so how he should be remembered.
THE CULTURE LEADER OFF THE FIELD
It may be strange to call someone as just 25 as major leader of a team but for me, Sean was a huge part of what it was to be a Chiefs. You can have all the stars you like on the paddock, Lienert-Browns, McKenzies, Webers and plenty of others but the squad is about much more than that.
I will happily compare Wainui’s impact and leadership with the Chiefs much like that of Ash Dixon had at the Highlanders in recent years. The Chiefs had such a strong family mana, it always needs people to connect into that puzzle and promote that culture for it to flourish. A culture and spiritual leader who’s home and family are as much with his wife and kids as they are with the team on the paddock.
Maybe that’s why Gatland failed at the Chiefs?
Wainui always wore his heritage proudly on his chest and fitted in so perfectly with his time in the Maori All Blacks environment and it showed. Ten appearances for them and cashing in with eight tries, a happy player is a successful player. A team he was always looked so proud to represent.
Sean will be massively missed when it comes to this side of sport, so many players have made tributes which shows he was always more than just another rugby player.
FAMILY
This is what seemed to be more important, Sean leaves behind a young family and his wife. Which is just truly devastating. The clips coming out on social media are showing the man that Sean was at home and honestly, its tragic. Just 25 years old, let that sink in to anyone who reads this, how fragile life can really be. Sean was a leader, a warrior, a father and a husband amongst much much more I’m sure, to those around him.
Of course he is part of our huge rugby family and I’m not quite sure what it is that causes such connection to those we watched on TV or out there on the field week after week. It feels like losing a brother. I’m sure I’ve missed much much more to say, but felt the need to share my thoughts and pay some respect.
I wish his family and friends all the love and strength to power on through this awful time.
Rest easy Sean Wainui. The rugby world thanks you for everything we watched from near and afar.
BEHIND THE POSTS 