Staff Sgt. Adam Agmon: A Warrior with the Heart of an All Black

In the memory of Staff Sergeant Adam Agmon (Z”L), we remember not only a courageous soldier, but a young man whose heart beat as strongly for rugby as it did for his homeland. Born in Wellington, New Zealand, to Israeli parents, Adam spent his early childhood in Aotearoa (New Zealand) before his family returned to Israel when he was small. But his Kiwi roots remained deeply woven into his spirit, especially through rugby.

Adam was a die-hard All Blacks supporter. He, his father Oren, and his brother Yahel even shared matching silver fern tattoos, a symbol not only of his national identity in New Zealand, but of a bond with family and with the game he loved. His passion for the All Blacks was more than casual fandom: as his family requested when news of his death spread across Kiwi media “please spread his story among rugby fans”. Rugby was more than a pastime to Adam, it was a reflection of character, courage, and community. Rugby is often viewed as a gladiatorial game, a game of war and attrition. For Adam, those parallels were real, and he embodied them fully.

The Spirt of the Silver Fern

From the time he was a boy, Adam carried the spirit of the All Blacks inside him, not just as a fan, but as someone who truly understood what their legacy meant. A team globally renowned for their grit, determination, character and their ability to always turn the odds in their favour. The All Blacks taught him that bravery is not the absence of fear, but the decision to rise above it, that courage is forged in loyalty to the people beside you and that character is revealed when the world demands everything you have. Adam lived those values long before he ever wore a uniform. He loved the black jersey because it represented something pure. Unity, sacrifice, and a fierce devotion to others. And in the moment his courage was tested, he answered in the way his rugby heroes taught him: by stepping forward when it would have been easier to step back, by choosing to protect rather than preserve himself, by carrying the weight for others when it mattered most. The same determination he saw in the All Blacks, that quiet, unbreakable resolve, became the heartbeat of his final actions. In giving his life to save others, Adam showed the world that he, too, was made of that remarkable grit.

A Life of Service and Compassion

Before he joined the Israel Defense Forces, Adam completed a year of national service working with at-risk youth at a therapeutic boarding school in Haifa. His commitment to others never wavered. He had lined up a job with a non-profit connected to Hapoel Tel Aviv that supports struggling youth, a testament to his generosity, kindness, and the dreams he held for his future.

Then came October 7, 2023. A day of tragedy and of heroism. Adam, serving in the Paratroopers Brigade, was called into action immediately when hostilities broke out. He and his comrades first moved to reinforce Kibbutz Nirim, then to the area near the Supernova festival site in Re’im. Ultimately, they advanced toward Kibbutz Kissufim, where Adam would make the ultimate sacrifice. According to his father, Oren, Adam made a conscious decision in those moments, he “decided to sacrifice himself … in order to save the people of Kissufim.” As reported, while trying to rescue a family barricaded inside their home, he came under gunfire and was killed alongside a local security team member, Saar Margolis (Z”L)

Courage Beyond Measure

In his final hours, Adam showed the heart of a true leader. Throughout the day, he kept his father updated by WhatsApp, even reporting that they had neutralised two terrorists earlier that morning. His bravery on the front lines was not impulse, it was deliberate, selfless action in defense of innocent lives. His loss reverberated deeply. His brother Yahel spoke of the void left behind: “first you fall apart, into pieces … the heart only wants you” And yet, Yahel also expressed a determination to carry forward Adam’s light: “the light that you are … I feel inside me so strongly.”

Legacy of Light, on and off the Field

Though he never wore the black jersey of the All Blacks on the field, Adam carried its spirit with him. His love for rugby, for his homeland, and for people was inseparable. In the words of those who knew him, he was “peaceful and loving … always wanting to do the right thing.”

All Blacks great Beauden Barrett paid tribute after his passing: “Rest in peace Adam. Thinking of his family and friends … we will do our best to make him proud”. That sentiment echoes the very core of Adam’s life, making others proud. A young man who carried two worlds inside him: the silver fern of New Zealand and the Star of David of Israel. A man who believed in service, in solidarity, and in the power of sacrifice. A warrior whose final act was not of rage, but of rescue. The All-Blacks led by Barrett would then go on to beat top ranked Ireland 28-24 shortly after.

An Immense Legacy

To speak of Adam Agmon is to honor the beautiful fusion of passion and purpose. His story reminds us that the qualities forged on the rugby field, courage, teamwork, discipline, are not confined to sport. They live in the hearts of those who choose, when faced with darkness, to run toward it, to protect, and to save.

In remembering Adam Agmon, we remember a young man whose life bridged two worlds: the land that raised him and the land he gave everything to protect. He carried the spirit of New Zealand and the determination of the All Blacks with him into every chapter of his life: their humility, their discipline, their unshakable commitment to standing together in the hardest moments. Those values shaped the man he became, and in his final act of courage, they shone through with heartbreaking clarity. Adam lived with the heart of an All Black and fell with the soul of a hero, loyal, fearless, and devoted to others.

Adam was laid to rest on October 12, 2023, in the Misgav cemetery near Karmiel. May his memory forever be a blessing and revolution (in the wise words of Rachel Goldberg-Polin), and may the legacy he leaves behind inspire the same courage, unity, and compassion he modeled so effortlessly.