Editorial: Great legacy on and off the field

The death of Jock Hobbs, at just 52, represents a monumental loss for New Zealand rugby.

Hobbs was a formidable proponent of our national game, an All Blacks captain, a New Zealand Rugby Union chairman. He was also a lawyer, a husband and a father of four.

The legacy of his life's work was played out for all to see when All Blacks captain Richie McCaw held the Webb Ellis Cup aloft at Eden Park at the conclusion of the Rugby World Cup.

Hobbs created that moment of magic. He may not have taken the field to do battle with the French foe, he may not have coached the boys or given them the inspirational halftime speech to get them over the line. But he headed the campaign to bring the tournament back to New Zealand for the first time since the inaugural event in 1987.

That accomplishment followed his pivotal role in uniting players and the New Zealand Rugby Union through the bitter fallout as the game turned professional.

He was a giant on the field and a colossus behind the scenes.

I saw Hobbs at a suburban Wellington cafe about 2 years ago. I don't pretend to have known him, but I certainly knew who he was.

Jock Hobbs, the man in charge of New Zealand rugby.

On that day, as he sat at an outdoor table, he appeared tall and robust - even though he'd been battling leukaemia since 2006. In the last 18 months, Hobbs endured aggressive treatment to battle non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

It must be a huge comfort to his family and those who knew and loved him best that Hobbs got to see the 2011 Rugby World Cup played in New Zealand, that it was so wildly popular with the New Zealand public and visitors and that the team he once captained triumphed again.

Hobbs was held in deep affection in rugby circles and his family is knitted into the fabric of the game. His wife Nicky is a sister of former All Blacks fullback and Wallabies coach Robbie Deans. Their son Michael plays for the Blues franchise.

Current and former All Blacks last night expressed their sadness at his passing.

The All Blacks of last year took to Twitter to thank Hobbs for his contribution to the game and their lives. Cory Jane wrote: "RIP Jock Hobbs. A great man and legend for all he did for NZ rugby."