Norm Berryman


Norman "Norm" Rangi Berryman was a New Zealand rugby union winger and centre. He played one test for the All Blacks, and represented Northland, the Crusaders and the Chiefs in New Zealand. In France he played for Castres Olympique and CS Bourgoin-Jallieu.

Representative career

Berryman first played first class rugby as an 18-year-old for Northland in the National Provincial Championship, in 1991. The next year he played in the New Zealand trial, but wasn't picked for the national team. He continued to play for Northland, and in 1996 joined the Chiefs for the new Super 12. Berryman was drafted into the Blues in 1997, and eventually into the Crusaders in 1998. With the Crusaders he won three Super 12 championships.
Teammate Justin Marshall: "At the Crusaders, we were very structured and defence orientated and he definitely wasn't that. would play off the cuff and he enabled us to use our defence to swing on to attack. It was vital. And the crowd loved him."
During the 2000 NPC he left New Zealand for France, playing for Castres Olympique then CS Bourgoin-Jallieu. He returned to New Zealand in May 2003. Berryman rejoined Northland for the 2003 NPC, playing his 100th game for the team that year. In 2004 Berryman moved to Sydney, Australia, where he played for Southern Districts in 2005.

International career

Berryman played one Test for the All Blacks, as a replacement against South Africa in 1998. He also played for New Zealand A in the tour to Samoa that year, and in 1999.
He was a member of the New Zealand Māori in 1992, and from 1995-2000. On his return to New Zealand in 2003 he was selected for the Māori again, this time for their tour of Canada.

Personal life

Berryman was born in Wellington, moving to Whangarei as a child. He began playing rugby at Whangarei Intermediate School, continuing through Whangarei Boys' High School and Church College.
From 2004, Berryman lived in Australia - Sydney, then Perth. In Perth he stayed involved in club rugby, playing in the third-grade Kalamunda team, and coaching at his son's club, Wanneroo. He died of a heart attack in Perth on 22 June 2015, aged 42, survived by six children.