Poignant farewell for Willie Los'e

Hundreds of sporting and broadcasting personalities, family and friends gathered at Eden Park today to mourn and remember Willie Los'e.

Los'e died suddenly three weeks ago​ in Cape Town when he was due to commentate the Rugby World Cup Sevens tournament.

Emotional eulogies and memories were shared among those present, who included La'auli Sir Michael Jones, Sir John Kirwan, and Sir Graham Henry.

Newstalk ZB news reader Niva Retimanu remembered what Los’e said to her the first time he walked into the newsroom.

“Sister are we the only coconuts working here at Newstalk ZB?

“And I turned around and he saw these white faces in the room, and I said yes, yes we are and he replied with a fist pump and a Willie Los’e grin.

“And one of the producers walked past and said ‘what’s up with him?’ and I said he is a trailblazer and at that moment I understood the significant of his role and the reason for the big smile on his face.”

Los’e grew up in West Auckland and attended Kelston Boys' High School, where he was head prefect, playing First XV alongside Va'aiga Tuigamala. He later played regional grade for Auckland and North Harbour in the 1990s.

Long-time friend Richard Cole says Los'e brought some unique qualities to North Harbour rugby.

“Straight away the one thing he walked with him that was different, which a lot of the young North Harbour guys haven’t seen before was his style and his flare, that described Willie Los’e perfectly.

“And he was unashamedly debonair, let’s face it he was vain, he didn’t care, we’re all vain and we don’t want people to know it."