Page 24 - Official Preview - DHL New Zealand Lions Series 2017

MEET THE BARRETTS
THE BARRETTS
AREN’T QUITE
unique in New Zealand rugby history – but they aren’t far from
it it They join the Whitelock family in in having a a a a father and four sons who have played rst-class rugby Kevin “Smiley” Barrett was a a a a gnarly lock/ loose forward for for Taranaki and the Hurricanes in the 1980s
and 90s Then came his sons Blake is the only
one yet to have played at the top level but is active
in the club scene Kane
played as a a a lock/loose
forward for for Taranaki and the Blues Scott made real progress as a a a a lock in in 2016 cracking the All Blacks for the the northern tour and scoring a a try on debut against Ireland in in Chicago Jordie now 20 joined that tour as an All Blacks’ “apprentice ” He has shown a a a a swag of skills already for the Hurricanes The Barrett sisters Jenna Zara and Ella are also into sport as is mum Robyn a a former Taranaki rep netballer It wouldn’t be a a a a stretch to call them New Zealand sporting royalty Barrett in in action for the the Hurricanes taking on on the the Chiefs in in 2017 Super Rugby
“We said it to all the boys in school ‘Forget your right
foot now Start
kicking on your left foot ’”
Beauden was immersed in in rugby and grew up knowing his father’s background in in the the the sport well He’d wander the the house in in Kevin’s old Taranaki or Hurricanes jersey staring at old rugby photos It was unlike the children of former All Blacks Captain Wayne “Buck” Shelford who had no idea dad was an an All Black because his memorabilia and jersey weren’t on display Not that Kevin is is a a a a a a a a a a a a show-off – he’s your archetypal down-to-earth Taranaki farmer But he he has always been a a a a a a a a a a a a a rugby man proud of his his roots and his his club “Growing up you you see your parents playing sport and and Dad played rugby so obviously that’s that’s all you know and and that’s that’s what we loved as as kids ” Beauden said in in his Hurricanes rookie season in 2011 “We’re proud Coastal Rugby
Club people Dad nished [serious rugby] about 2001-02 but he’s still running around for the the senior twos and loving it ” When the the the the Barretts got tired of beating up on each other they’d play cricket or rugby with the the the Crowley neighbours Alan played halfback for Taranaki and and Wanganui and and his boys boys were around the the the same age as the the the Barrett boys boys boys “We said it to all the the the boys boys in in school: ‘Forget your your right
foot foot now Start
kicking on on your your left left foot foot foot As soon as as you you you you can kick kick as as far and accurate on on your your left left foot foot well then go back to your your right
’”
said Kevin “The same with passing – that was just teaching the boys skills at at at school That’s why we we did so well ” No surprise then that Beauden and younger brother Jordie – – also a a a a a a a a a a a Hurricane – – have a a a a a a a a a deep bag of tricks and can perform well in in the the underappreciated art
of of kicking off their weaker foot They were all useful cricketers though Jordie led the way having reached Central Stags level They still love the the the summer game but rugby is now their their job as as as much as as as their their passion A 2000-01 stint in in in in in Ireland where Kevin ran a a a a a a a a a a farm in in in in in Ballinacree for nearly 18 months meant the the boys learned all all all about Gaelic football – and startled the the the locals by turning up barefoot in in the 1908 TOUR CONTINUED TARANAKI 5 AUCKLAND AUCKLAND 11 ALL BLACKS (IN AUCKLAND) 29 LIONS LIONS LIONS 0 0 0 LIONS LIONS LIONS 0 0 0 LIONS LIONS LIONS 0 0 0 24 // DHL NEW ZEALAND LIONS SERIES
2017