Sid Going: A Life of Service to God and Country

Sid Going, 80, former New Zealand All Black rugby star and member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, passed away today at his home in Maromaku, New Zealand.

Born 19 August 1943 in Kawakawa, Sidney Milton Going was educated at Maromaku Primary School, Northland College and Church College of New Zealand. When he was 19 years old, he chose to serve a two-year mission for the Church, laying aside his rugby boots to travel to Alberta, Canada to teach the good news of Jesus Christ. 

During General Conference of The Church in April 2011, Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles said that Going's "decision to serve a mission before playing rugby for New Zealand is a testament to his faith and dedication to his beliefs."

Watch a video depicting Sid Going serving his mission: Your Day for a Mission (youtube.com)

Elder Andersen visited with Sid and his wife, Colleen, when they were serving as senior missionaries for the Church in Australia.

They served as the temple president and matron of the Hamilton New Zealand Temple from 2013 to 2016. In the temple Sid and Colleen cared for hundreds of people daily, who came from New Zealand and the isles of the Pacific to be spiritually uplifted and healed.

Going will be remembered for his love for God and his compassion to all.

Many rugby experts rate Going as New Zealand's greatest running halfback. Dubbed 'Super Sid' by fans, he played 86 matches, including 29 Tests for the All Blacks between 1967 and 1977.

Going was awarded the Tom French Cup for Māori player of the year a record six times, earning the accolade consecutively from 1967 to 1972. He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in 1977 for his contributions to rugby.  

Sid Going was inducted into the New Zealand Sports Hall of Fame, during the 2020 Halberg Awards.

Contact:

Milton Going
New Zealand
Phone:  +64 027 478 0009