Rugged prop, and a great character

STAN PILECKI: 1947-2017

Former Australian prop Stan Pilecki, who played 18 tests for the Wallabies, has died aged 70.

He was one of the characters of transTasman rugby, playing seven tests against the All Blacks during his international career between 1978 and 1984, when he tangled with the likes of Gary Knight, Billy Bush and John Ashworth.

He was renowned as an uncompromising prop, but freely admitted he was a lazy trainer and was often seen smoking on the sidelines.

Pilecki died on Wednesday after a short period of ill health, in the company of his two daughters at their Jindalee home in Queensland.

He was the first player to log 100 caps for Queensland, in a career that spanned three decades.

Pilecki earned his first cap for the Wallabies in 1978, at the age of 31, before tours of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Fiji and Argentina during a sevenyear

"His impact on the field was more than matched by the contribution he made away from rugby."

Tony Shaw, Rugby Australia president, on Stan Pilecki

international career.

He was born in a German refugee camp in 1947 before his family emigrated three years later to Australia.

Such was Pilecki’s influence on rugby in Queensland, the Reds’ Player of the Year award, the Pilecki Medal, is named in his honour.

In an interview with Stuff three years ago, Pilecki revealed a great affection for New Zealanders and a funny story about Kiwi rugby legend, the late Sir Colin Meads.

He was on his first trip to New Zealand with Queensland in 1970. ‘‘I went to the news agency and grabbed a few magazines. The first one I picked up and there’s Colin Meads on the front page with sheep under one arm and a Victa lawn mower in the other and he’s mowing his hedges.

‘‘I thought, s..., what a man! This is where they play rugby.’’

A stalwart of Brisbane’s Wests Rugby Club, Pilecki played 221 A Grade games for them and was their first Wallaby.

Rugby Australia president Tony Shaw said: ‘‘We’ve lost one, if not the greatest characters of our sport’’.

‘‘His impact on the field was more than matched by the contribution he made away from rugby, embodying the spirit that makes the game truly great.

Former team-mate Simon Poidevin added: ‘‘Australian Rugby lost one of its great characters in Stan Pilecki.

‘‘Stan was one of the most-authentic rugby players the world has seen, universally loved by all those who had the privilege to play alongside him and feared by those who opposed him.’’

❚ AAP, Stuff