While on these stints he was scouted by former All Black Aaron Mauger to join the Canterbury rugby academy, with which he spent three seasons. During the same three seasons Wilson played for the Crusaders Knights team in the Pacific Rim competition.
With Eaton unavailable with a groin strain Wilson will start for the Magpies in tonight's ITM Cup second round fixture against Otago in Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium.
Naturally he's excited about the opportunity.
"With Izzy [Dagg] back we've got two players with All Black experience [winger Zac Guildford is the other] and everyone else apart from me in the starting backline has Super experience. My job is simple ... just give the ball to the fast guys," Wilson said.
"It is an opportunity to earn a little bit more game time ... more time in the saddle."
Like his head coach Craig Philpott, who coached Wilson in the 2011 Canterbury Colts team, Wilson has stressed the importance of backing up last weekend's polished 39-10 win in the Ranfurly Shield defence against Northland.
"We've won four away regular season games in three years and two of those were shield challenges. We want to get a bit of consistency on the road this season," Wilson said.
Tonight's match will also give him an ideal opportunity to focus on his biggest "work on" - game management, controlling the tempo like a good playmaker should. Wilson, the 2013 Canterbury B team player-of-the-year, hasn't analysed the Otago team in detail.
"It's important we focus on getting our things right and the result should take care of itself. You can expect anything from Otago. Their coach is Cory Brown, a brother of Tony, and they come up with interesting moves which are hard to defend against."
As has been the case in recent seasons, the tussle between Magpie vice captain Ash Dixon and fellow Highlanders hooker, Razorbacks captain Liam Coltman, should be a beauty. With more experienced support around him Dixon should have the edge.
Expect the Magpies, with three openside flankers - captain Brendon O'Connor, Tom Stanley and Tony Lamborn - in their loose forward trio to dominate the breakdown area.
Add their mobility to the pace available in the Magpies backline and the superior experience, Magpies fans will feel short changed if the visitors don't fly home with the maximum five competition points and at least a 20-point winning margin.
BOTH TEAMS
OTAGO: Peter Breen, Tony Ensor, Matt Faddes, Teihorangi Walden, Jack Wilson, Fletcher Smith, Kaide Whiting, Mikaele Mafi, Theo Commissaris, Adam Knight, Josh Dickson, Blair Tweed, Hisa Sasagi, Liam Coltman (c), Craig Millar.
Substitutes, forwards: Sam Anderson-Heather, Donald Brighouse, Aki Seiuli, Charlie O'Connell, Nulia Dawai. Backs: Josh Walden, Michael Collins, Gavin Stark.
HAWKE'S BAY: Israel Dagg, Ryan Tongia, Richard Buckman, Andrew Horrell, Zac Guildford, Ihaia West, Ellery Wilson, Brendon O'Connor (c), Tom Stanley, Tony Lamborn, Mark Abbott, Michael Allardice, Jarvy Aoake, Ash Dixon, Brendon Edmonds.
Substitutes, forwards: Jorian Tangaere, Tolu Fahamokioa, Mark Braidwood, Sanaila Waqa, Trent Boswell-Wakefield. Backs: Jonathan Ruru, Billy Ropiha, Shannan Chase.
