Wilson wins New Zealand merit award

Record-breaking All Black Jeff Wilson, who retired from rugby this year to play cricket again, has been awarded a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit in his country's New Year honours list.

"It came out of the blue when I got the letter (about the honour)," Wilson told The Southland Times newspaper. "It's nice to be recognised after 10 years in rugby, but I have to admit I was a little bit surprised.

"I was always proud to stay in New Zealand and play my rugby but this is a huge honour and it fills me with humility, really."

Wilson, who made his provincial debut for Southland against Canterbury in 1992 before shifting to Otago the following season, made his Test debut against Scotland in 1993 and went on to play 60 tests and a record 44 test tries. He scored a hat-trick in his debut Test.

Wilson retired from rugby this year as New Zealand's fourth highest scorer of tries in first class rugby, to resurrect a cricket career which saw him play one-day cricket for New Zealand before concentrating on rugby.