Norm Hadley
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.[2]
 Norm Hadley lines up in World Cup action | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 2 December 1964 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Place of birth | Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of death | 26 March 2016 (aged 51) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of death | Tokyo, Japan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 21 st (130 kg) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rugby union career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Career
Hadley captained his national side five times in 1992-3, including on 17 October 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.
While working in London and playing for Wasps, he gained perhaps his greatest notoriety for roughing up two hooligans on the London Underground, an act which not only earned him praiseworthy column inches in the British broadsheets and tabloids, but even gained him a mention in the House of Commons by then Prime Minister John Major. Already a well-known pundit on BBC TV's Rugby Special live weekly program, offers for more TV appearances followed. Stormin' Norman was later named in Britain's glossy Total Sport Magazine (August 1997 issue, "The Blood and Guts, Hard Issue") as one of the World's 12 Toughest Sportsmen alongside Lance Armstrong and F1 racer Johnny Herbert. (Among the "Sporting Sissies" were boxers Roberto Durán and Riddick Bowe).
In Australia's Inside Sport Magazine – "Rugby World Cup 2003 Issue" (Inside Sport November 2003 # 143 pg. 70), Aussie Captain and legend John Eales named his Top 5 World Cup "Bolters from the Blue". "Stormin’ Norm Hadley, the impressive Canadian from 1991" (playing in the same position as Eales) was #3 on the list. All Black phenomenon, Jonah Lomu was #1 for his exploits in 1995 and the entire Western Samoa team came in at #2 for their efforts in the 1991 tournament. (Ivory Coast came in at #4 for making it to the 1995 event. World Cup (1991) winning Australian Wallaby winger Rob Egerton was #5).
Norman has one daughter, Madison Elle Watson.[3] He was the grandson of celebrated Academy Award-winning cinematographer Osmond Borradaile.[4]
At the age of 51, after many years of battling depression, chronic pain and suspected Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE), Hadley ended his life on 19 March 2016. The Tokyo Medical Examiner determined the cause to be an overdose of Pentobarbital.[5] His death was announced on 27 March 2016[6]
References
- SUNGOLIATH SUNTORY Team Classic
- "Former Canadian rugby standout Norman Hadley dies at age 51". The Chronicle Herald.
- "Norman Borradaile Hadley 1964-2016". Globe and Mail. 13 April 2016. Archived from the original on 10 May 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2017.
- "Rugby team takes time out for Canadian history lesson". Vancouver Sun, October 18, 1991.
- Autopsy Report, Tokyo Medical Examiner
- "Norman Hadley: Former Wasps and Canada lock dies aged 51". BBC Sport. Retrieved 27 March 2016.