Norm Hadley
Encyclopedia
Norman Hadley (born 2 December 1964 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
) is a former professional rugby union
player.
"Stormin' Norman" was a massive 6 foot 7", 21-stone (150-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 25 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.
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 Duran
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).
A no-nonsense player's-player, who played a tough, aggressive, uncompromising game on the field, he was openly critical of the inability of Canadian management to adapt to the new professional environment. He seemed to walk away from the game when he still had more to offer, either as a player, coach, administrator or commentator, having once claimed on TV that if he weren't playing sport he could find many other things to do with his time than watch it or talk about it.
He is the grandson of celebrated Academy Oscar Award-winning Hollywood cinematographer Osmond Borradaile
.
Hadley is currently Managing Director of a Global Investment Bank.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
) is a former professional rugby union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player.
"Stormin' Norman" was a massive 6 foot 7", 21-stone (150-kg) lock. He played professionally first for London Wasps
London Wasps
London Wasps is an English professional rugby union team. The men's first team, which forms London Wasps, was derived from Wasps Football Club who were formed in 1867 at the now defunct Eton and Middlesex Tavern in North London, at the turn of professionalism in 1999...
and then Bedford Blues
Bedford Blues
Bedford Blues is a rugby union club in the town of Bedford, England, currently playing in The RFU Championship. Bedford is one of the largest towns in England without a league football club, and one of the few towns in England where the rugby club is better supported than the football team. The...
in the 1990s. In Canada he played for James Bay and UBCOB Ravens (British Columbia Rugby Union
British Columbia Rugby Union
The British Columbia Rugby Union is the provincial administrative body for rugby union in British Columbia. The BCRU consists of nine sub-unions and 65 clubs. It was originally organized in New Westminster in 1889 where Alfred St...
). He earned an M.B.A. degree from UBC
UBC
- Universities :* University of British Columbia, a major Canadian university with its main campus in Greater Vancouver* UBC Okanagan, the campus in Kelowna, British Columbia* UBC Thunderbirds, the athletic program of the main campus- Athletics :...
in 1991. Previously he played for Western Suburbs in Wellington, New Zealand. He played for quarter-finalist Canada
Canada national rugby union team
The Canada national rugby union team represents Canada in international rugby union. They are governed by Rugby Canada, and play in red and black. Canada is classified by the International Rugby Board as a tier two rugby nation. There are ten tier one nations, and seven tier two nations, the...
in the 1991 Rugby World Cup
1991 Rugby World Cup
The 1991 Rugby World Cup was the second edition of the Rugby World Cup, and was jointly hosted by England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and France; at that time, the five European countries that participated in the Five Nations Championship making it the first Rugby World Cup to be staged in the...
. In total he earned 25 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
Wembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
, a 13-26 (1 try to 4) loss to England. On that day Hadley eclipsed his English counterparts Wade Dooley
Wade Dooley
Wade Dooley is a former England rugby union international who played lock forward. He played for his country 55 times and was known as the "Blackpool Tower", as a result of being 6 feet 8 inches tall and a police officer with Lancashire Constabulary in Blackpool.Dooley was born in Warrington,...
and Martin Bayfield
Martin Bayfield
Martin Christopher Bayfield is an English former rugby union footballer who played lock forward for Northampton Saints, Bedford Blues and England, gaining 31 England and 3 Lions caps.Bayfield was born in Bedford...
, 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
Barbarian F.C.
The Barbarian Football Club, usually referred to as the Barbarians and nicknamed the "Baa-Baas", is an invitational rugby union team based in Britain...
against the World Champions Australia at Twickenham
Twickenham Stadium
Twickenham Stadium is a stadium located in Twickenham, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. It is the largest rugby union stadium in the United Kingdom and has recently been enlarged to seat 82,000...
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
London Underground
The London Underground is a rapid transit system serving a large part of Greater London and some parts of Buckinghamshire, Hertfordshire and Essex in England...
, 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
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
. Already a well-known pundit on BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV's Rugby Special
Rugby Special
Rugby Special was the main rugby union programme on the BBC in the UK. The show ran from 1966 and past presenters included David Vine, Keith Macklin, Cliff Morgan, Chris Rea, Nigel Starmer-Smith, Bill Beaumont and John Inverdale. The theme tune, "Holy Mackerel", was composed by The Shadows'...
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
Lance Armstrong
Lance Edward Armstrong is an American former professional road racing cyclist who won the Tour de France a record seven consecutive times, after having survived testicular cancer. He is also the founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation for cancer research and support...
and F1 racer Johnny Herbert
Johnny Herbert
John Paul Herbert is a British racing driver from England. He competed in Formula One, winning three races, and also in sports cars winning the Le Mans 24 Hours in 1991 driving a Mazda 787B...
. (Among the "Sporting Sissies" were boxers Roberto Duran
Roberto Durán
Roberto Durán Samaniego is a retired professional boxer from Panama, widely regarded as one of the greatest boxers of all time. A versatile brawler in the ring, he was nicknamed "Manos de Piedra" during his career....
and Riddick Bowe
Riddick Bowe
Riddick Lamont Bowe is a retired American boxer. He is a two-time heavyweight champion and a former undisputed heavyweight champion...
).
In Australia’s Inside Sport
Inside Sport
Inside Sport is an Australian sport magazine published by nextmedia. Inside Sport largely comprises articles by freelance journalists, covering a wide array of sports. It focuses on sporting content, sports photography, and the attention given to models and their photo shoots...
Magazine – "Rugby World Cup 2003 Issue" (Inside Sport November 2003 # 143 pg. 70), Aussie Captain and legend John Eales
John Eales
John Eales AM is an Australian former rugby union player and the most successful captain in the history of Australian rugby.-Early life:...
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
Jonah Lomu
Jonah Tali Lomu, MNZM is a New Zealand rugby union player. He had sixty-three caps as an All Black after debuting in 1994. He is generally regarded as the first true global superstar of rugby union. He has had a huge impact on the game...
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).
A no-nonsense player's-player, who played a tough, aggressive, uncompromising game on the field, he was openly critical of the inability of Canadian management to adapt to the new professional environment. He seemed to walk away from the game when he still had more to offer, either as a player, coach, administrator or commentator, having once claimed on TV that if he weren't playing sport he could find many other things to do with his time than watch it or talk about it.
He is the grandson of celebrated Academy Oscar Award-winning Hollywood cinematographer Osmond Borradaile
Osmond Borradaile
Osmond H. Borradaile was a Canadian cameraman, cinematographer and veteran of First and Second World War.Osmond Borradaile grew up in Alberta, moving often during his childhood...
.
Hadley is currently Managing Director of a Global Investment Bank.