Sam Norton-Knight
Centre
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Profile
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Height:
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188cm
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Weight:
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88kg
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Date Of Birth:
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02/12/1983
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Place of Birth:
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Canberra
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Stats
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Super Rugby Caps:
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65 (7 Force, 49 Waratahs, 9 Brumbies)
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Super Rugby Points:
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57 (11t, 1c)
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Super Rugby Debut:
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2005 v Crusaders, Canberra
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Test Rugby Caps:
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2
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Test Rugby Points:
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5 (1t)
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Test Rugby Debut:
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2007 v Wales, Sydney
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Profile
Sam Norton-Knight is a classy playmaker who joins the Emirates Western Force with a wealth of experience in Australia and abroad. After working his way through the ranks of the Brumbies, Norton-Knight made his Super Rugby debut for the ACT-based side in 2005 before joining the Waratahs the following season. He was selected for the Wallabies’ Spring Tour in 2006 but had to wait another year for his Test debut, doing so against Wales in Sydney. The former Wallabies flyhalf left Australian shores at the end of the 2009 Super Rugby season to spend a season with the Cardiff Blues before playing four seasons with leading Japanese club, the Panasonic Wild Knights. With the ability to cover flyhalf, inside centre and fullback, and boasting a strong kicking game, the 30-year-old brings significant versatility and balance to the Emirates Western Force’s backline.
Timeline
2001
Represents the ACT at the National Under 19 Championship.
2003
Member of the Brumbies Academy; makes his provincial debut off the bench for Brumbies in their 26-25 win over Fiji in Canberra; member of the premiership-winning Canberra Vikings that defeat the Gold Coast 26-19 in the grand final.
2004
Member of the Brumbies Academy; represents the Canberra Vikings in Sydney’s Tooheys New Cup, succumbing to Sydney University in the semi-finals, 44-14.
2005
Makes his Super Rugby debut in the Brumbies’ 32-21 win over the Crusaders in Week One; makes his starting debut at fullback in the Brumbies’ 21-19 win over the Bulls in Week Two; scores his maiden Super Rugby try in the side’s 34-29 win over the Cats in Johannesburg; plays nine matches for the Brumbies during the Super Rugby season; signs with the Waratahs on a two-year deal from 2006; starts at flyhalf for Australia A in their 34-31 loss to the Junior All Blacks in Sydney; scores a try on debut for the Waratahs in their 94-3 win over the Czech Republic in Prague, before scoring two tries against Romania and one against Russia on the same tour.
2006
Makes his Super Rugby debut for NSW at flyhalf in the Waratahs 16-12 Week One win over the Reds; plays 14 matches during the Super Rugby season; selected in extended Wallabies squad for the international Test season; captains the Waratahs in their 20-17 tour win over Leinster A in Dublin; included in the 47-man training squad for the Rugby World Cup.
2007
Plays 13 matches for the Waratahs during the Super Rugby season; makes his Wallaby debut in Australia’s 29-23 win over Wales in Sydney, replacing Stephen Larkham at starting flyhalf; scores his maiden Test try in the Wallabies’ 49-0 win over Fiji in Perth; starting flyhalf for the premiership-winning Central Coast Rays, scoring a try in their 20-12 grand final win over the Melbourne Rebels.
2008
Misses the Waratahs’ first five Super Rugby matches due to a quadriceps injury suffered in the pre-season; plays 10 matches for the Waratahs during the Super Rugby season; represents Australia A during the Pacific Nations Cup, scoring two tries in the 90-7 win over Tonga and one in the 42-21 victory over Japan.
2009
Plays 12 matches during the Super Rugby season; signs to play with the Cardiff Blues.
2010
Plays 20 matches for the Cardiff Blues during the 2009/10 season, scoring three tries, including a double in their LV Cup win over Newcastle; joins Japanese Top League club, Sanyo (now Panasonic) Wild Knights; wins a Top League title after defeating Toyota Verblitz 22-17 in the final.
2011
Represents the Panasonic Wild Knights; starts at inside centre for Panasonic in their Top League grand final against Suntory, losing 37-20.
2012
Represents the Panasonic Wild Knights; starts at inside centre for Panasonic in their Top League grand final loss to Suntory, 21-9.