Nathaniel Arthur "Ranji" Wilson (18 May 1886 – 11 August 1953) was an early

All Black The New Zealand national rugby union team, commonly known as the All Blacks ( mi, Ōpango), represents New Zealand in men's international rugby union, which is considered the country's national sport. The team won the Rugby World Cup in 1987, ...

, rugby football player for

New Zealand New Zealand ( mi, Aotearoa ) is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It consists of two main landmasses—the North Island () and the South Island ()—and over 700 smaller islands. It is the sixth-largest island count ...

. He was born in

Christchurch Christchurch ( ; mi, Ōtautahi) is the largest city in the South Island of New Zealand and the seat of the Canterbury Region. Christchurch lies on the South Island's east coast, just north of Banks Peninsula on Pegasus Bay. The Avon Rive ...

of English/West Indian parentage. Wilson was chosen for the All Blacks for matches against the touring Anglo-Welsh in 1908, versus Australia in 1910, 1913 and again in 1914. In an unusual case, he was charged with assault in 1910 for actions during match, but was found not guilty. Unfortunately for his brother Billy Wilson he said that he knew who threw the punch and when the Wellington Rugby Union asked him to say who it was he refused. Both brothers along with a third (Joseph) were playing in the same match and there was considerable confusion over which of the brothers may have thrown the punch. They then banned Billy for life from playing rugby union. He switched to rugby league and played many times for

During the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

, he was one of the stars of the New Zealand Services team which won the Kings Cup against other Dominion countries in 1918–19, and would have toured

South Africa South Africa, officially the Republic of South Africa (RSA), is the Southern Africa, southernmost country in Africa. It is bounded to the south by of coastline that stretch along the Atlantic Ocean, South Atlantic and Indian Oceans; to the ...

with the New Zealand Army team in 1919 had he not been classed as "coloured"."Race and South African rugby"
FJG Van Der Merwe, 2010 Wilson was later one of the team of seven selectors who picked the 1924-5 "Invincibles" team that toured Great Britain, France and Canada undefeated. He died on 11 August 1953 in Lower Hutt.

References

1886 births 1953 deaths New Zealand international rugby union players New Zealand rugby union players Rugby union players from Christchurch {{NewZealand-rugbyunion-bio-1880s-stub