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    Willie Los'e dies

    Sports Talk
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    • Crucial
      Crucial last edited by Crucial

      Sport, Talanoa, Rugby, Newstalk ZB

      'Devastating loss': Former rugby and sports radio star dies, aged 55

      'Devastating loss': Former rugby and sports radio star dies, aged 55

      Los'e represented Tonga at the Rugby World Cup and later became a sports broadcaster.

      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
      • Bovidae
        Bovidae last edited by Bovidae

        Willie Los'e.

        https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/300682270/sky-sport-rugby-commentator-willie-lose-dies-aged-55

        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
        • nzzp
          nzzp last edited by

          Sudden medical event in SA, and passed away.

          Deepest condolences to his family, that's really sad.

          https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/300682270/sky-sport-rugby-commentator-willie-lose-dies-aged-55

          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
          • Crucial
            Crucial last edited by

            Not only remembered for Rugby. Spent a bit of time in the late 80s in the hospo industry in central Auckland (especially De Bretts) where he is well remembered.

            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
            • Bovidae
              Bovidae last edited by

              I've had a few brief chats to Willie and Ken Laban over the years when they were commentating 1st XV games. The off-camera banter between those two was hilarious. RIP.

              Bones 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 11
              • S
                Steven Harris last edited by

                Me ōku whakaaro ki te whānau o Willie Lose i tēnei wa pouri .
                Totally shocked , I worked with Willie during his time at Coca-Cola during the mid nineties, got to know Willie very well and we have kept in touch during his time as a commentator.
                55 is far too young , hard to believe that one of his last calls was Saturdays Northland v Auckland game ..
                Totally gutted .

                ACT Crusader Billy Tell 2 Replies Last reply Reply Quote 21
                • KiwiMurph
                  KiwiMurph last edited by

                  In his role as a commentator it feels like the viewers got to know him personally.

                  This hits really hard.

                  He seemed like such a nice guy and a wonderful servant for rugby.

                  His poor friends and family.

                  RIP Willie.

                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 10
                  • F
                    foobaNZ last edited by

                    RIP. Certainly a loss to NZ rugby.

                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                    • Donsteppa
                      Donsteppa last edited by

                      Far too young and terribly sad news.

                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                      • ACT Crusader
                        ACT Crusader @Steven Harris last edited by

                        @Steven-Harris condolences bro. And condolences to all his whanau and friends.

                        He was the voice of 7s for me and his enthusiasm for it was pretty infectious for the viewer.

                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 5
                        • antipodean
                          antipodean last edited by

                          Well that's a shock and very sad news. Way too young.

                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                          • Stargazer
                            Stargazer last edited by

                            Geez, only 55 years old. Way too young. Really sad to hear.
                            My condolences @Steven-Harris and others on the Fern who knew him.

                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                            • B
                              bayimports last edited by

                              wow, very sad, weird given I just listened to him in Bop versus the colour stealers on the weekend. Thoughts to his family friends and the massive rugby community he had an impact on

                              FakatavaAllBlack 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                              • Canes4life
                                Canes4life last edited by

                                This post is deleted!
                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                • Billy Tell
                                  Billy Tell @Steven Harris last edited by

                                  @Steven-Harris said in Willie Los'e dies:

                                  Me ōku whakaaro ki te whānau o Willie Lose i tēnei wa pouri .
                                  Totally shocked , I worked with Willie during his time at Coca-Cola during the mid nineties, got to know Willie very well and we have kept in touch during his time as a commentator.
                                  55 is far too young , hard to believe that one of his last calls was Saturdays Northland v Auckland game ..
                                  Totally gutted .

                                  Really sorry to read that news. Always loved his enthusiasm. Thoughts with his family and mates such as yourself from here in Europe.

                                  MN5 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                  • MN5
                                    MN5 @Billy Tell last edited by

                                    @Billy-Tell said in Willie Los'e dies:

                                    @Steven-Harris said in Willie Los'e dies:

                                    Me ōku whakaaro ki te whānau o Willie Lose i tēnei wa pouri .
                                    Totally shocked , I worked with Willie during his time at Coca-Cola during the mid nineties, got to know Willie very well and we have kept in touch during his time as a commentator.
                                    55 is far too young , hard to believe that one of his last calls was Saturdays Northland v Auckland game ..
                                    Totally gutted .

                                    Really sorry to read that news. Always loved his enthusiasm. Thoughts with his family and mates such as yourself from here in Europe.

                                    Absolutely, always really cheerful and looked like he loved what he did.

                                    I remember reading in one of those coffee table All Black books ( by Frank Bunce I think ) that he deliberately wore t shirts too small to show off his guns and that he was the only guy in the world who used hair product on a number zero. Quite a character by the sounds of things !

                                    RIP.

                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                    • Nepia
                                      Nepia last edited by

                                      Really didn’t like him when he was on talkback when he was mentored by and modelled himself as a brown Deaker, but met him at a Kahungunu awards night and he was a top bloke in person.

                                      55 is way too young.

                                      Moe mai ra

                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                      • Stargazer
                                        Stargazer last edited by

                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 3
                                        • Bones
                                          Bones @Bovidae last edited by

                                          @Bovidae said in Willie Los'e dies:

                                          I've had a few brief chats to Willie and Ken Laban over the years when they were commentating 1st XV games. The off-camera banter between those two was hilarious. RIP.

                                          Was he as enthusiastic and upbeat away from the mic? Would have made quite the pair with gruff Ken.

                                          Really sad news, sucks to hear.

                                          Bovidae 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                          • FakatavaAllBlack
                                            FakatavaAllBlack @bayimports last edited by

                                            @bayimports RIP Willie🙏

                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                            • MajorRage
                                              MajorRage last edited by

                                              Terrible news to start the day with. I'm guessing it'll be another Heart Attack given the sudden-ness of it all. Been far too many of these sorts of news lately.

                                              Got pigeon holed a bit as a 7's commentator, which may well have been his passion, but I really enjoyed his 15's commentary as well. Seemed much more focused on calling the game as opposed to talking about referees, anecdotes etc.

                                              All the best to his friends & family.

                                              1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
                                              • canefan
                                                canefan last edited by

                                                Shit that's terrible. Far too young. Whatever you thought of his commentary you always knew he loved the game. Rest easy mate

                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 4
                                                • Paekakboyz
                                                  Paekakboyz last edited by

                                                  Oh man, RIP Willie. An absolute character of NZ rugby and a really good dude. Gone far too young.

                                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                  • Bovidae
                                                    Bovidae @Bones last edited by

                                                    @Bones said in Willie Los'e dies:

                                                    @Bovidae said in Willie Los'e dies:

                                                    I've had a few brief chats to Willie and Ken Laban over the years when they were commentating 1st XV games. The off-camera banter between those two was hilarious. RIP.

                                                    Was he as enthusiastic and upbeat away from the mic? Would have made quite the pair with gruff Ken.

                                                    Laban was usually the one making the jokes.

                                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                    • booboo
                                                      booboo last edited by

                                                      Kinda feel stink as the last post I made on him was less than complimentary about his talk back ability.

                                                      But I stand by that.

                                                      He was good as a play by play commentator though.

                                                      And it's far too young.

                                                      Condolences to all who knew him.

                                                      1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                      • TheMojoman
                                                        TheMojoman last edited by

                                                        Really sad to see. He and Pat Lam ran a number of sessions with Auck U21’s back in early 90’s. Always learnt a lot about backrow play from Willie and he was always willing to help.

                                                        1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 6
                                                        • Kirwan
                                                          Kirwan last edited by

                                                          Ah man, crappy news. RIP.

                                                          He will be missed.

                                                          1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 2
                                                          • S
                                                            Steve last edited by

                                                            what did he die from?

                                                            1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                            • F
                                                              Frye last edited by

                                                              Very sad. And the worst news I've heard today.

                                                              RIP

                                                              MN5 1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                              • MN5
                                                                MN5 @Frye last edited by

                                                                @Frye said in Willie Los'e dies:

                                                                Very sad. And the worst news I've heard today.

                                                                RIP

                                                                Not a fan of the Queen Frye ?

                                                                1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 0
                                                                • S
                                                                  Steven Harris last edited by Steven Harris

                                                                  It’s not been great 24 hours with not just Willie’s passing but also the passing of former Ponsonby, Auckland & NZ Māori prop Leon Toki who played against the touring British and Irish Lions in 1977 at Eden Park in arguably the best game of the tour when the Māori led 19-6 at halftime only for the Lions to storm back and win 22-19 ..
                                                                  I was only 15 at the time , never been so gutted ..Leons sister married my first cousin ,so I was lucky enough to chat to Leon over the years .
                                                                  Leon’s brother Ness also played in the same match , 2 brothers from the Ponsonby club

                                                                  As someone who has been on blood thinners for the last 4 years ,supporting the Taniwha does that to you , just want to say even though this may not be the correct forum , make sure you all have regular checks , things like this come out of left field .
                                                                  Thanks again for the messages really appreciate it![alt text](![image url](![image url](![image url](DA78CC86-FC69-47FC-9CF3-1A449579D20B.jpeg image url)))))

                                                                  1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 8
                                                                  • Bovidae
                                                                    Bovidae last edited by

                                                                    1 Reply Last reply Reply Quote 1
                                                                    • Daffy Jaffy
                                                                      Daffy Jaffy last edited by

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