UPDATED 3.58PM: One of the cult figures of New Zealand rugby has died.

Norm Berryman has passed away suddenly, aged just 42.

"Stormin" Norman played 107 games for Northland, and Super Rugby for the Blues, Chiefs, and Crusaders.

Newly-minted Blues coach Tana Umaga said it had been a difficult few weeks with the death of Jerry Collins, and Berryman's passing was another reminder of what's important.

"[He was the] same age as me. It is something that puts things in perspective and making sure that when we love those closest to us, they really know it."

He helped the Crusaders to their first Super Rugby title in 1998 and two more after that. Former teammate Aaron Flynn said he thrived on and off the park in Christchurch.

"Down here in the environment where I think the Wayne Smith gave him the freedom to use his flair and his skills and he just grew in confidence every Saturday," Flynn said.

"I don't think he really realised before he came down to Christchurch that he was [talented]...he had a skillset that most players would dream of."

Another Crusaders teammate, legend Andrew Mehrtens, said he'd lost a very dear friend who created so much laughter.

"He could sing Stevie Wonder like Stevie Wonder, pretty much. He didn't look too disimilar either when he chucked on his big sunnies as well," Mehrtens said.

"There was alot of good times."

From there was selected for the All Blacks for the first time where he played one test - against South Africa in Durban.

Northland CEO Jeremy Parkinson managed the Taniwha team for a few seasons while Berryman was playing.

He said Berryman always had a smile on his face and played rugby for the right reasons.

"He was always a character, he always had a smile on his face, he played the game for all the right reasons and in the spirit of it," Parkinson said.

"He was a Maori boy who probably grew up in a pretty tough area of Northland and did good through rugby."

"He epitomises everything about the game."

Berryman also had a stellar career for New Zealand Maori. Long-time New Zealand Maori coach Matt te Pou said Berryman was never affected by his status.

"He just wanted to be himself, he didn't want to be a huge untouchable person. He was just one of those guys that when you turned around after the game, he'd disappeared up into the grandstands and be sitting amongst a whole pile of kids."

He was a true character off the field, but Wayne Smith believes the influence of Norm Berryman on it, can't be underestimated.

Smith, who coached Berryman at the Crusaders, said the Blues decision to let him go into the Super Rugby draft in 1998 was the only mistake Sir Graham Henry made as a selector.

Smith said Berryman made a massive impact at the Crusaders.

"He was one of the reasons we won in 1998 and 99. He was hugely influential in big games and we all loved him for it."

Norm Berryman had been living in Perth and is survived by his six children.

He played for a New Zealand Invitational XV in a match in Milan last week, in memory of Jerry Collins.