Joe Wheeler (rugby union)
Joseph Thomas Wheeler is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays as a Lock or Flanker for Suntory Sungoliath in the Japanese Top League. Of Ngāi Tahu descent, Wheeler was selected in the New Zealand Māori All Blacks and represented them on the November 2013 tour of North America.
A product of the Marlborough Boys' College 1st XV, Wheeler made his Super Rugby debut for the against the Sharks in 2010. He joined the Highlanders for the 2013 Super Rugby season on a two-year deal.
Wheeler comes from a successful sporting family: his brother Ben Wheeler is a cricketer who plays for Central Districts; and his grandfather Ray Dowker was a multi-talented athlete who represented Canterbury in cricket, football and many other codes.
In 2015, Wheeler became engaged to be married to Courtney MacKay, one of the contestants from season 5 of The Block NZ.
