Billy Guyton, a former New Zealand rugby player who played for the Blues, Crusaders, and Hurricanes in Super Rugby, as well as the Māori All Blacks and Tasman Mako, died on May 15, 2023, at the age of 33. His death has shocked and saddened the rugby community, who remember him as a talented and passionate player and coach.
A Short But Successful Career
Guyton started his rugby career in North Otago, where he won the Heartland Championship in 2010. He then moved to Tasman, where he played 52 games between 2013 and 2017. He was part of the team that won the championship in 2013 and reached the final in 2014 and 2016.
He also played for three Super Rugby franchises: the Crusaders, the Hurricanes and the Blues. He made his debut for the Crusaders in 2015, but only played one game. He then joined the Hurricanes in 2016, but again only made one appearance. He found more success with the Blues, where he played 24 games in 2016 and 2017.
In 2016, he achieved his dream of representing the Māori All Blacks, playing two games on their tour of the northern hemisphere. He started against Irish club Munster and came off the bench against English club Harlequins.
A Forced Retirement Due to Concussion
Guyton’s rugby career was cut short by concussion symptoms that forced him to retire in 2018. He told the Nelson Weekly in 2018 that he was suffering from headaches, nausea, blurry vision and sensitivity to noise and light. He said that he struggled to play with his then two-year-old daughter and decided to quit for his health and family.
He said that he was proud of what he had achieved in his career, especially becoming a Māori All Black, which was a very proud moment for his family. He also said that he enjoyed playing for Tasman and winning the championship with them.
A Positive Impact as a Coach
After retiring from playing, Guyton stayed involved in rugby as a coach. He was an assistant coach for the Tasman women’s team in the Farah Palmer Cup, where he helped develop women’s rugby across the region. He also coached at Nelson College and Waimea Old Boys.
He was described by Tasman Rugby as a “much-loved member of our whole Tasman Rugby Union team” who had a positive impact on those he played alongside and coached.
A Shocking and Tragic Death
The exact cause of Guyton’s death is yet to be confirmed, and it remains unclear whether it was a suicide or an accident. His death has left his family, friends and colleagues in grief and disbelief.
His former teams and teammates have expressed their condolences and sympathy on social media. The Blues said that they were “shocked and saddened” by his death and that they could not imagine the heartache his family and friends must be feeling. The Māori All Blacks said that they were “deeply saddened” by his passing and that they were sending their love and support to his whānau.
Guyton is survived by his wife Jess and their two children.
He will be remembered as a rugby star who played with skill, passion and pride, and who made a positive contribution to the game as a player and a coach.
Source- News in Bollywood
