Former All Black Legend Norm Hewitt Remembered for Impact on and off the Rugby Field

Former All Blacks star and rugby legend, Norm Hewitt, has passed away at the age of 55 after battling motor neurone disease, confirmed by New Zealand Rugby on Tuesday.

Hewitt, a revered hooker, earned his place in rugby history with 23 appearances for the All Blacks, including nine Tests, starting with his selection as a backup to Sean Fitzpatrick during the 1993 British and Irish Lions series.

One of Hewitt’s most memorable moments came in 1997 when he famously confronted England’s Richard Cockerill in a fiery encounter during the haka before a match at Old Trafford, adding to the rich tapestry of rugby folklore.

Researchers have linked professional rugby players to a heightened risk of motor neurone disease, a rare degenerative condition that claimed the life of English rugby league icon, Rob Burrow, earlier this year at the age of 41 after a four-year battle.

Mark Robinson, CEO of New Zealand Rugby, paid tribute to Hewitt’s on-field tenacity and off-field humility, reminiscing about the encounters he had with the formidable player on and off the pitch over the years.

Off the field, Hewitt found himself in the limelight in 1999 for an incident involving breaking into the wrong hotel room while intoxicated. This was a turning point for Hewitt, leading him to confront his alcohol problem and transition into a role as a youth mentor, positively impacting many lives.

The legacy of Norm Hewitt extended beyond the rugby field, even making an appearance in popular culture through the character Murray Hewitt in the hit television comedy series ‘Flight of the Conchords’, inspired by a fusion of Hewitt’s name with other rugby greats like Murray Mexted.