MND takes another rugby player. Are they over-represented in this evil disease?Former All Blacks hooker Norm Hewitt has died after a battle with motor neurone disease. He was 55.
Hewitt made 23 appearances for the All Blacks and played in close to 300 representative matches during a rugby career that spanned 13 years.
“It with great sadness that the death of Norm Hewitt is recorded today,” Hewitt’s family said in a statement.
“Husband to Arlene, and father to his beloved children Elizabeth and Alexander, the former All Black and NZ Māori, Hurricanes and Wellington rugby captain passed away, in the company of his immediate family, in the early hours of this morning.
“Norm had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
“Norm’s funeral arrangements are private and his family similarly ask for their privacy at this difficult time, so that that they might properly grieve their husband, father, son and brother.”
Hewitt first made the All Blacks as understudy to Sean Fitzpatrick in the 1993 series against the British and Irish Lions and later that year toured Scotland and England.
Hewitt was a stalwart of the Hurricanes, missing just one match in the first five years of Super 12.
Hewitt had a famous haka standoff with England’s Richard Cockerill in 1997 during his All Blacks career.
The pair came face-to-face in an intense showdown before the match at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Hewitt’s last appearance for the All Blacks came against England at Eden Park in 1998, when he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of that year.
After retiring, Hewitt remained in the public spotlight, involved in many things, including as a public speaker, mentor to youth, Dancing with the Stars winner and rugby commentator.
He also became heavily involved in violence prevention programmes and advocacy and worked for the SPCA as a an animal cruelty and anti-violence publicity officer in schools.
Hewitt returned to the rugby field in 2000 to captain the Centurions XV in the 25th annual parliamentary rugby game.
Norm Hewitt RIP
I drink and I forget things.
Rugby players fifteen times more likely to get MND than the general population according to this studyEnzedder wrote: Tue Jul 16, 2024 12:01 am
MND takes another rugby player. Are they over-represented in this evil disease?Former All Blacks hooker Norm Hewitt has died after a battle with motor neurone disease. He was 55.
Hewitt made 23 appearances for the All Blacks and played in close to 300 representative matches during a rugby career that spanned 13 years.
“It with great sadness that the death of Norm Hewitt is recorded today,” Hewitt’s family said in a statement.
“Husband to Arlene, and father to his beloved children Elizabeth and Alexander, the former All Black and NZ Māori, Hurricanes and Wellington rugby captain passed away, in the company of his immediate family, in the early hours of this morning.
“Norm had been diagnosed with motor neurone disease.
“Norm’s funeral arrangements are private and his family similarly ask for their privacy at this difficult time, so that that they might properly grieve their husband, father, son and brother.”
Hewitt first made the All Blacks as understudy to Sean Fitzpatrick in the 1993 series against the British and Irish Lions and later that year toured Scotland and England.
Hewitt was a stalwart of the Hurricanes, missing just one match in the first five years of Super 12.
Hewitt had a famous haka standoff with England’s Richard Cockerill in 1997 during his All Blacks career.
The pair came face-to-face in an intense showdown before the match at Old Trafford in Manchester.
Hewitt’s last appearance for the All Blacks came against England at Eden Park in 1998, when he suffered a knee injury that sidelined him for the rest of that year.
After retiring, Hewitt remained in the public spotlight, involved in many things, including as a public speaker, mentor to youth, Dancing with the Stars winner and rugby commentator.
He also became heavily involved in violence prevention programmes and advocacy and worked for the SPCA as a an animal cruelty and anti-violence publicity officer in schools.
Hewitt returned to the rugby field in 2000 to captain the Centurions XV in the 25th annual parliamentary rugby game.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-63133516
A true great of the game gone too soon.
And are there two g’s in Bugger Off?
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Uncle fester
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Fine player. IIRC he would have got a lot more calls if it wasn't for Fitzpatrick?
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Torquemada 1420
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