Norman ‘Mac’ Hughes

Rugby Union

Norman 'Mac' Hughes, line-out specialist and lock forward, played representative rugby regularly for NSW and Australia in the 1950s.

Mac started playing rugby at the age of twelve at Mosman Preparatory School and was later coached by Bryan Palmer when he attended Shore in North Sydney. He played for Sydney University while studying architecture, and captained the team in 1957.

Mac played for NSW against Queensland in 1953 and won a place in the Australian team that toured South Africa in 1953. (He captained New South Wales in 1955.) Norman played three Tests against New Zealand in 1955, two against South Africa in 1956, and in all five Tests on the 1957-58 tour of Britain, France, Canada and USA.

After the tours, Norman stayed in England to study architecture and continue his football career. He played for the Barbarian Football Club from 1959-60 and Blackhealth until 1960 where he was captain for his final two seasons.