Sam Hamish Norton-Knight

Sam Norton-Knight was a utility back who despite early comparisons with Stephen Larkham only enjoyed a brief career in Wallaby gold. The fleet footed Norton-Knight was neither a schoolboy or aged representative at national level when he started his senior career at the Royals Club in Canberra as a 19-year-old. Norton-Knight then graduated through the ACT rugby development system where he played for the Brumbies Academy ACT U19s.

He made his Super Rugby debut for the Brumbies in 2005 but soon upped and left for the Waratahs. A series of consistent performances throughout New South Wales’ 2007 Super Rugby season saw him rewarded with a Test debut against Wales in Sydney. Unfortunately his well-known versatility may actually have been more of an Achilles heel as he went on to win just one additional cap, also in 2007, against Fiji in Perth before he was overlooked for that year’s Rugby World Cup squad.

Norton-Knight left Australia in 2009 for one season with the Cardiff Blues and three seasons with Japan's Wild Knights before he returned for a single Super Rugby tournament at the Western Force.

Highlights

2007

Norton-Knight won his first Test cap when selected at No.10 in the 1st Test, 29-23 victory over Wales in Sydney. He picked up a second and final cap two weeks later when he came off the bench to replace Stephen Larkham in the 49-0 win against Fiji in Perth.