Super Rugby match record holder Sean Wainui died at 25 in a car crash on Monday. According to the police, his vehicle hit a tree. The general manager of the New Zealand Rugby Union, Mark Robinson, was very moved at the news of the sudden death of the center of the Waikato Chiefs, referring to “a dark day for rugby”.
“Sean’s death will deeply affect everyone involved in rugby, especially his Bay of Plenty teammates (his New Zealand league team he joined last May) and the Chiefs, we share their grief and shock, ”said Mark Robinson in a statement.
The Old All Black Sonny Bill Williams also paid tribute on social media to Wainui. “Although I didn’t play alongside him, I could still feel his mana (his stature) by bumping into him as an opponent,” he tweeted.
Wainui, who notably represented New Zealand’s Under-20 team and Maori All Blacks, began his Super Rugby career with the Canterbury Crusaders in 2016.
He joined the Chiefs in 2018. Last June, he scored five tries against Australian franchise NSW Waratahs in a 40-7 victory in Sydney, setting a record for most tries scored by a player. in a single Super Rugby match.