A flanker, he played for Canterbury and won 21 caps for the New Zealand national team, the All Blacks, between 1983 and 1986, with four tests as captain.
Others that were possible replacements were Bruce Middleton and Auckland captain Alwyn Harvey, but Hobbs played so well against the Lions that he was an automatic selection as All Blacks number seven for the next few seasons.
In 1995, Hobbs was instrumental in retaining New Zealand's leading players when they were on the verge of defecting to Kerry Packer's rebel World Rugby Corporation.
[2] In the 1996 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby.
[4] In the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was promoted to Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for services to rugby and sports administration.