Former All Black Norm Hewitt’s passing yesterday has stirred the rugby world with tributes pouring in to remember him.
Hewitt passed away in the early hours of yesterday morning at the age of 55, and was diagnosed with motor neurone disease one year ago.
Former teammate Glen Osborne remembered Hewitt as a beautiful man and said a big place in his heart was hurting for the passing of his friend.
“I was sitting in the car yesterday, just reminiscing of what Norm was about, his mana and rangatiratanga. He was an incredible person," Osborne told Breakfast this morning.
Osborne was a fullback and played with Hewitt in the All Blacks as well as the Māori All Blacks in the late 90’s.
He played 29 games for the All Blacks and made nine appearances for the Māori All Blacks.
“He’s the best captain I've ever been under, without a doubt. When you get the combination of him and coach Matt Te Pou in the New Zealand Māori team, it just created the spark.
“Everyone loved him, everyone died for him when we were on the field. That’s why the New Zealand Māori team during that era won so many games, because of the mana that he had, the mana that Matt Te Pou had, and that combination just worked.”
Hewitt also won the first edition of Dancing With The Stars in 2005.
"He was a machine on Dancing With The Stars and he became a bit of a celebrity."
Osborne also recalled the change he saw in Hewitt after he married his partner Arlene, and had children.
“When he got married and had children, he changed and the change was so much for the better, she did wonders for him. From that man who was angry all the time, from that man who was tough, and we all knew him as a really tough person.
“He was so soft, he had become a softer man and a role model for tamariki out there."
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