Northland “folk hero” Norman Berryman was polarising in his rugby career, but afterwards happily made his way in Australia as a forklift driver in Perth. The one-test All Black, Northland rugby stalwart and three-time Super 12 champion with the Crusaders died overnight Monday, aged 42. Berryman moved to Australia about 11 years ago, first settling in Sydney for about three years, before heading to Western Australia. He is survived by six children: Terrell, Tatiana, Laytarjae, Shyah and twin daughters Cairo and Kaya.

Berryman was a talented rugby player who was well-remembered by former All Blacks captain and newly appointed Blues coach Tana Umaga. The two were the same age.

“We were in the New Zealand A side that went across to Samoa in 1998,” Umaga said. “I remember when we played in a touch tournament in our last year of school in New Plymouth at Rugby Park and he was big then. I couldn’t believe such a big man had such amazing footwork. “Then we went up against each other in New Zealand Colts trials and with Northland. He always had a big smile. He loved life and loved his family. He’s going to be a big loss.

Northland Rugby chief executive Jeremy Parkinson said Berryman epitomised everything which the union tried to provide and was a real character of the game, a “cult and folk hero”. “He showed you can grow up anywhere and make it into the All Blacks,” Parkinson said. “He was a little bit different, he never used to warm up with the team, he’d just stand around and have a chuckle and then roll out with the team. -- stuff.co.nz