"Stormin" Norman Berryman has died of a suspected heart attack in Australia.
He was 42. Berryman played one test for the All Blacks, against South Africa in 1998. Berryman had been recently living in Perth working as a forklift driver.
He also played for the Crusaders and the Blues at Super Rugby level.
Berryman is survived by six children.
Northland Rugby CEO Jeremy Parkinson told Radio Sport that Berryman was a ''cult and folk hero''.
"Any kid can grow up anywhere in the country and become an All Black, and that's what Norm did."
"He was a shining light in that you're talented and you persevere you can succeed. He was hugely popular up here," Parkinson said.
"There's always that story when he'd just been dropped from the All Blacks and he got off the bus and hitch-hiked home with all his gear."
"He was a bit of a cult and folk hero up here."
Berryman won three Super Rugby titles with the Crusaders in 1998, 1999, and 2000 and played 75 matches for Northland from 1991 to 2000. He also played for the New Zealand Maori.
Berryman's only test came off the bench in a 24-23 defeat to the Springboks in Durban. Berryman replaced Eroni Clarke at centre in the match.
