Temuka is remembering its links to an All Black great.
Former All Blacks captain Tane Norton died on Friday, aged 81.
Norton enjoyed a long career in first class rugby and was All Blacks captain for nine games, including for the series win over the Lions in 1977.
Former Temuka team-mate Lindsay Parke said Norton played for the Temuka Rugby Club for several seasons in the mid 1960s.
Mr Parke said Norton had been transferred to the Temuka BNZ.
He said, ‘‘He was a real gentleman, and a damn good rugby player too’’.
‘‘He was very well known in Temuka in those years.’’
When Norton was transferred yet again — this time to Linwood
— ‘‘he left a big hole in Temuka’’.
‘‘The rest of his career is history.’’
He said Mr Norton had donated all his international jerseys to the Temuka Rugby Football Club.
‘‘At least 10 of them.’’
The hooker represented Mid Canterbury as a 19 year old in 1961, but it was another seven years before he returned to first class rugby, playing for the Linwood club in Christchurch. It led to a call-up for Canterbury.
He was selected for the 1971 series against the Lions, making his debut in the first test defeat in Dunedin.
Norton went on to play in 27 consecutive tests.
He captained the All Blacks to a 4-1 series victory over the Lions in 1977, which featured his final appearance for New Zealand in the fourth test victory.
Norton finished his career having played 197 first class games, including 82 for Canterbury and 61 for the All Blacks, including 27 tests.
Following his retirement, Norton remained actively involved as a coach and administrator with the Linwood club in Christchurch.
He was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby in the 2006 New Year Honours.
— Additional reporting The New Zealand Herald
