Tane Norton, Former All Blacks Captain, Dies at 81

The New Zealand rugby community is mourning the loss of former All Blacks captain Tane Norton, who passed away on Thursday, August 4th, 2022 at the age of 81. Norton, who led the All Blacks in 9 tests in 1977, had been battling dementia in the final years of his life.

Norton's death was confirmed by his former club, Canterbury Rugby, on Friday. "We are deeply saddened by the passing of former All Blacks captain Tane Norton," the club said in a statement. "A stalwart of Canterbury rugby, Tane will be greatly missed."

Born in 1941 in Mid Canterbury, Norton first played provincial rugby for Mid Canterbury in 1961 at age 19. He soon joined the Linwood club in Christchurch, where his career took off. He made his debut for the All Blacks in 1971 against the touring British and Irish Lions, beginning an impressive 27-test career with New Zealand's national team.

A Tenacious Hooker Who Led By Example

Norton was known for his grit and determination on the pitch. Standing at 5'10" and weighing around 200 pounds, he was relatively small for a forward at the highest level. However, Norton more than made up for his lack of size with his work rate and commitment.

A tough-tackling hooker, Norton often found himself at the bottom of rucks and mauls. His relentless drive and refusal to back down from physical contests inspired his teammates.

One moment that exemplified Norton's perseverance came during the fourth test against the 1977 Lions. With the All Blacks under immense scrum pressure, Norton kept fighting. According to former teammate Billy Bush, Norton "hooked the ball with his head while hanging on to a buckling scrum."

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Norton was named captain of the All Blacks for their 1977 test series against the British and Irish Lions. This was a great honor for Norton, who Bush said was extremely proud to lead New Zealand as a Māori player.

The 1977 series was hard-fought, with each team winning one test apiece heading into the fourth match in Auckland. This final test, in which Norton made his gritty play to secure the ball, ended in a draw. The All Blacks thus retained the series 2-1 by virtue of winning the first two tests.

While the series itself was controversial due to some questionable refereeing decisions, Norton emerged as a well-respected leader. He captained the All Blacks with class and composure during a tense series.

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Humble Family Man

Beyond rugby, Norton was known as a humble, family-oriented man. Jennifer Leahy, a teacher at St. Albans School which Norton's grandchildren attended, recalled him being a constant presence at school events:

"I remember Tane attending school activities to support his grandchildren, and he was always extremely nice and encouraging to all children participating in any sporting event. I also remember that he was very proud of all of the students in his grandchildren’s classes."

Norton’s former teammates also emphasized his warmth and care for others. Billy Bush commented, “A humble individual who has a warm and loving family. He was a wonderful provider for his family.”

Dementia Took His Life at 81

In his later years, Norton suffered from the effects of dementia. His health deteriorated significantly over the last three months of his life before he passed away suddenly on Thursday night in Christchurch.

While the rugby community mourns the loss of a great leader and teammate, they can find solace in the full life Norton lived and the legacy he left. He earned the respect of his peers through his selfless, spirited play and moral character.

Tane Norton's passing is a reminder of the toll that dementia takes on rugby legends. But it is also a reminder to celebrate Norton's accomplishments and impact on New Zealand rugby. The gritty hooker and captain embodied the spirit of the All Blacks and inspired those around him. He will be dearly missed.

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