Norm Hadley

Norm Hadley

Norm Hadley lines up in World Cup action
Date of birth	(1964-12-02)2 December 1964
Place of birth	Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Date of death	26 March 2016(2016-03-26) (aged 51)
Place of death	Japan
Height	2.01 m (6 ft 7 in)
Weight	21 st (130 kg)
Rugby union career
Playing career
Position	Lock
Professional / senior clubs Years Club / team Apps (points)   London Wasps Bedford Blues
National team(s) Years Club / team Apps (points) 1987-1994  Canada 15 (0)

National team(s)
Years	Club / team	Apps	(points)
1987-1994	Canada	15	(0)

Norman "Norm" Hadley (2 December 1964 – 26 March 2016) was a Canadian professional rugby union player. "Stormin' Norman" was a massive 6 ft 7 in (2.01 m), 21-stone (130 kg) lock. He played professionally first for London Wasps and then Bedford Blues in the 1990s. In Canada he played for James Bay and UBCOB Ravens (British Columbia Rugby Union). He earned an M.B.A. degree from UBC in 1991. Previously he played for Western Suburbs in Wellington, New Zealand. He played for quarter-finalist Canada in the 1991 Rugby World Cup. In total he earned 15 caps for Canada between 1987 and 1994.

Hadley captained his national side five times in 1992-3, including on October 17, 1992 at Wembley Stadium, a 13-26 (1 try to 4) loss to England. On that day Hadley eclipsed his English counterparts Wade Dooley and Martin Bayfield, and rallied an understrength Canadian side to a respectable outcome. Many however point to Canada's narrow quarter-final defeat to the New Zealand All Blacks in the 1991 World Cup as Canada's finest hour, where Hadley and a big, tough forward pack clearly had the upper hand over New Zealand. That highly regarded 1991 World Cup Canadian team made a big impact defeating Fiji and Romania and giving both France and New Zealand such a torrid time. Always outspoken, a dispute with national team management saw him not play the 1995 World Cup, where his team desperately needed him in the tough pool that included South Africa and Australia.

Following a dominant performance in the 1991 World Cup, he was named to the World Team (as selected by Rugby World magazine), and was subsequently chosen to play for the world selection Barbarians against the World Champions Australia at Twickenham in 1992. His locking partner for the Barbarians that day was All Black Ian Jones. He went on to represent the Barbarians another four times. He was named Athlete of the Year in his home town of Victoria, B.C. following the World Cup in 1991.