Norman Jason Hewitt (11 November 1968 – 16 July 2024) was a New Zealand rugby union player who played as a hooker. He won nine caps for the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks. Hewitt participated in, and won, season one of Dancing with the Stars in 2005.
| Birth name | Norman Jason Hewitt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 11 November 1968 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Hastings, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 16 July 2024 (aged 55) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Wellington, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 108 kg (17 st 0 lb) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| School | Te Aute College | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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Rugby career
editAlthough in All Blacks squads from 1993 until 1999, Hewitt’s appearances were limited by the presence of Sean Fitzpatrick and later selectors also preferring Anton Oliver and Mark Hammett. He played 9 test matches (4 as a substitute) and 14 other matches for the New Zealand national team.
Hewitt played nearly 300 first class rugby matches. This included 15 for New Zealand Māori, 66 Super Rugby and 143 National Provincial Championship (NPC) matches. He captained New Zealand A and New Zealand Maori, the Hurricanes, Hawke’s Bay and Wellington.[1]
Career highlights include:
- Hawke’s Bay's defeats of the 1993 British Lions (29–17) and the 1994 French tourists (30–25).
- being named the 1996 NPC Second Division Player of the Year.
- missing just one match in the first five years of Super 12.
- scoring seven tries for the All Blacks, although none in test matches.
- never losing in a test match, he played in eight All Black test wins and a draw against England.
- captaining Wellington to the NPC title against Canterbury in 2000, playing the majority of the final with a broken wrist.[2]
At club level he represented Napier Tech Old Boys, Taradale, Albion and Wellington.
Personal life
editHewitt was born in Hawke’s Bay, where he was also raised.[3] Of Māori descent, he identified with Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāti Tūwharetoa.[3] He was married to former world aerobic champion Arlene Thomas, who teaches group fitness at Jenkins Gym in Wellington.[4]
Hewitt made a public apology after a drunken incident in 1998, and thereafter became an outspoken advocate of changing drinking habits.[5]
Hewitt and professional dancer Carol-Ann Hickmore won the first series of Dancing with the Stars (New Zealand) on 19 June 2005.[6] He donated his winnings to literacy charity Duffy Books in Homes,[7] and was associated with Rangikura School, a primary school in Porirua.[8]
In 2006 Hewitt's brother Rob, a Navy diver, was rescued after surviving four days and three nights floating in the sea off the coast of Porirua.[9][10]
In 2018, Hewitt was featured in the documentary Making Good Men, which highlights the relationship between Hewitt and former schoolmate Manu Bennett.[11]
Hewitt died in Wellington from motor neurone disease on 16 July 2024, at the age of 55.[12][13][14]
References
edit- ^ www.vcsnet.co.nz, VCS Websites (NZ)-Lower Hutt and Wellington. "Norman Jason Hewitt | New Zealand Rugby History". www.rugbyhistory.co.nz. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Norm Hewitt – Hurricanes". www.hurricanes.co.nz.
- ^ a b "Norm Hewitt | The Peace Foundation". www.peace.net.nz. Archived from the original on 24 December 2018. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Episode 6 – Arlene Thomas-Hewitt". Māori Television. Retrieved 5 May 2018.
- ^ Martin, Judith (9 December 2008). "Battling alcohol abuse the Norm Hewitt way". NZ Army. Archived from the original on 2 June 2012. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Norm's one happy hooker". The Sydney Morning Herald. 20 June 2005. Retrieved 13 April 2009.
- ^ Cheng, Derek (20 June 2005). "Big Norm was people's choice for 'Dancing with the Stars'". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 1 November 2011.
- ^ Julian, Adam (20 October 2022). "Remembering the champion Wellington Lions 2000 side". New Zealand Rugby. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ O'Neil, Andrea. "Rob Hewitt survives three nights lost at sea in Wellington - 150 years of news". Stuff. Retrieved 18 July 2024.
- ^ "75 hours lost at sea: Why Rob Hewitt's back in the water". The New Zealand Herald. 16 July 2024.
- ^ "Making Good Men". Te Amokura. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ "Former All Blacks hooker Norm Hewitt has died". Stuff. 16 July 2024. Retrieved 16 July 2024.
- ^ Norm Hewitt at AllBlacks.com
- ^ Laws, Michael (16 July 2024). "Norm Hewitt 1968–2024". Scoop. Retrieved 18 July 2024.