I read a story on the NZ Rugby Museum website recently about the achievements of brothers in NZ rugby history. The article focused on two sets of brothers, the Clarkes and the Finlayson’s, and ended with “If someone knows of other remarkable family representations the Rugby Museum would love to hear about them.” That got me thinking.
As part of my research into club and provincial histories, I uncover interesting facts and remarkable family quirks. I will take up the challenge from the Rugby Museum and will list my top 5 NZ rugby family representations. Unlucky not to make the top 5 is the Barry family; Ned, Kevin, and Liam, the first instance of a family providing three generations of All Blacks.
Number 5: The Finlayson’s;
1925-30 All Black Innes “Bunny” Finlayson from North Auckland was one of six brothers. “Bunny” and brothers Bain, Owen “Tote” and Angus represented North Auckland, the latter also playing for Auckland, the North Island and, in 1929, a New Zealand XV. Callum Finlayson, Angus’ twin, played for Otago 1927-33. The sixth brother, Jack (Bain’s twin) was North Auckland RFU president 1940-46, an NZRFU councillor 1946-49 and president 1950.
Number 4: The Soper’s;
The Soper’s are a Southland family, originally from Cornwall in England, who produced so many rugby playing sons that it was able to field a full fifteen players, capable of extending and often beating sub-union and city teams.
The first team fielded was in 1925 and played against a Balfour XV. The Soper’s prevailed.
The Balfour team challenged again in 1926, determined to reverse the loss from 1925. Again, the Soper’s prevailed 14-6.
In 1927, Balfour challenged again and were victorious 8-3.
1928 saw increased interest on the exploits of the Soper team and two matches were played. Balfour was defeated 9-0 and the champion Southern team from Invercargill challenged them to a game being the curtain raiser to Southland and Otago at Rugby Park. The Soper’s won 14-5 and showed they were a great team, not just a team of brothers and cousins.
The Soper’s continued to play matches in 1952, 1970, 1975 and 1978; the Soper’s won every game.
Nine members of the extended Soper family have represented Southland.
Reference and photographs courtesy of Live and Let Live – A History of the Soper Family by Lyndel A. Soper published in 1980.
Number 3: The Clarke’s;
Reproducing an article from the NZ Rugby Museum, five Clarke brothers, Don, Ian (both All Blacks, Don from 1956-64, Ian 1953-64), Doug, Brian and Graeme, all from the Kereone club, played for Waikato against Thames Valley at Te Aroha on August 12th, 1961.
Between them the Clarke’s totalled 408 games for Waikato, starting with Ian (a prop) and Don (a fullback, aged 17) who debuted in 1951. The brothers that season helped Waikato win the Ranfurly Shield for the first time, with Don kicking the two penalties in their 6-3 challenge against North Auckland in Whangarei.
Doug, a five eight or fullback, made 42 appearances for Waikato from 1953 to 1962. But for his brother he might have played more, his biggest season was in 1960 when he made 12 appearances. Seven of those were at fullback while Don was touring South Africa with the All Blacks. He refereed at first class level and was Waikato RFU president 1994-95. As a cricketer he had six games for Northern Districts 1957-61.
Brian first played for Waikato in 1960, making 13 appearances. leading the Rugby Almanack to comment: “A further member of the Clarke, B E, displayed most pleasing all-round qualities as a forward, and ably filled variously the positions of lock, No. 8 and side-ranker”. He continued to represent Waikato until 1966, 70 games in all.
Graeme, whose Waikato debut was in that 1961 match against Thames Valley, also a lock forward, made 72 appearances for the union 1961-67. He weighed 17st. 4 lbs (110kgs) in 1967, a big man for that time, but his best season may have been in 1966 (14 games) when the Rugby Almanack reported “The outstanding forward was G A Clarke, tall, weighty and forceful lock who took a lot of stopping when in full cry”.
Ian appeared in 126 Waikato matches, including that 1961 lifting of the Ranfurly Shield. An even greater occasion may have been in 1956 when along with Don, he was part of the team that beat South Africa 14 -10 in the opening match of that year’s Springbok tour. For the All Blacks he played 83 games (24 tests) and had the honour of being invited by the Barbarians (UK) in 1964 to play for the club against his touring 1963/4 All Blacks. He played and scored the Barbarians only points in the match – a dropped goal from a mark. A most respected figure he refereed to first class level and was NZRU president in 1993. During his presidency he spoke out against the just announced decision to have the manufacturer’s logo appear on the All Black jersey but appeared to be the only official voice to do so.
Don was such a feared long range goalkicker that his ability as a fullback was sometimes underestimated. He appeared in 226 first class games, of which 98 were for Waikato and 89 (31 tests) for the All Blacks. He was one of the New Zealanders invited to play in the South African 75th jubilee matches in 1964. As a cricketer he played 27 first class matches for Auckland and Northern Districts as an opening bowler, his best return being 8 wickets for 37 against Central Districts in 1963. Chosen as New Zealand Sportsman of the year in 1959.
The Clarke’s appearances for Waikato:
Ian 126
Doug 42
Don 98
Brian 70
Graeme 72
___
408
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And that game in 1961?
August 12 1961, at Sports Domain, Te Aroha.
Waikato 11. N R Blackburn & Alan Hayes tries: D B Clarke, pen. goal and con.
Thames Valley 8. R J Wells, try, pen. goal, T E Shaw, con.
Referee. Mr J Mitchell (Thames Valley).
Number 2: The McKenzie’s;
To quote Arthur Swan in his book Rugby in Wairarapa 1876 – 1960; “No Wairarapa rugby history would be complete without a reference to the service given by the McKenzie family of 5 brothers of Carterton, William (“Off-Side Mac”), John, Edward, Herbert J and Norman A.”
“The record of “Off-Side” is given elsewhere in these pages (note William represented New Zealand in the 1890’s and was a Wairarapa selector). John represented Wairarapa and was a noted referee.”
Edward represented Wairarapa, was a North Island representative, and an international referee, in addition to becoming a New Zealand selector, administrator, president and life member of the NZRFU.
“Bert” too represented Wairarapa and North Island, and became an international referee and president of the NZRRA. John, “Ted” and “Bert” served both the Wairarapa Union and the Wairarapa Referee’s Association for many years in an administrative capacity.
Norman represented Wairarapa, Hawkes Bay and North Island Country, gave years of service to the management of the game in Hawkes Bay, and as selector, was responsible for the great Hawkes Bay shield sides. He was also a New Zealand selector, and a life member of the NZRFU. For his services to rugby, Norman was awarded the OBE in 1952.
Family details taken from Wairarapa Rugby Football Union Jubilee Issue 1886 – 1946 by Herbert McKenzie (of course);
The McKenzie’s also wrote many histories including Wellington and Wairarapa from 1910, Wairarapa Jubilee in 1946, The Wairarapa Bush centennial book in 1986 and the Carterton Rugby club histories of 1939, 1964 and 1979. Norman also wrote the book On With The Game.
On July 9th, 1927, Hawkes Bay challenged Wairarapa for the Ranfurly Shield at Carterton. “Quite simply, no other game in New Zealand before or since has excited quite the same acrimony and argument as did the Ranfurly Shield match played between Wairarapa and Hawke’s Bay at the Solway Showgrounds, Masterton, on July 9, 1927.”
Ted McKenzie was the Wairarapa selector (coach), Norman McKenzie was the Hawkes Bay selector and Bert McKenzie was the referee. The game was played at Carterton, the original hometown of all three of them.
“The match’s first sensation came early. Referee Bert McKenzie gave a lecture to both sides. Then, after a lineout, the Bay’s captain, Morrie Brownlie, and his 1924 All Black team-mate, Quentin Donald, were both ordered off.”
The game was played and afterwards a protest was made against one of the Bay players that caused considerable acrimony, although not by the three McKenzie brothers who had resolved any question of an issue before the game was played.
Number 1: The Barrett’s;
The NZ Rugby Museum article, referenced previously, stated “Five brothers representing the same provincial team on the same day? Certainly, most unusual but perhaps not unique in former times when families were larger and less mobile.” This is correct and has influenced my thoughts.
Rugby is no longer the pastime taken up by the majority of males in New Zealand. Modern fitness regimes and diets has meant that it is much harder to reach the top in New Zealand sport, and Rugby in particular. To become an All Black is more difficult than the early days.
For a family to produce an All Black is met with huge celebration. For two brothers (or brother and sister, or two sisters) to be selected is sensational. For three brothers to be selected, and at the same time, may be the one and only time it happens in the history of the game – and it could have been more.
Father, Kevin (“Smiley”) Barrett played 169 games for Taranaki and represented the Hurricanes. Mother, Robyn was a top runner, netballer and basketballer.
Oldest son, Kane first represented Taranaki in 2010 and in 2013 and 2014 represented the Blues. He retired due to concussion issues.
Beauden, the second eldest, has represented Taranaki, the Blues, the Hurricanes and the All Blacks.
Scott has represented Taranaki, the Crusaders and the All Blacks.
Blake has represented Taranaki and has played over 100 games for his Coastal club team.
Jordie has represented Taranaki, Canterbury, the Hurricanes and the All Blacks
Top rugby commitments prevent most All Blacks from playing for their province. Professionalism means that many All Blacks don’t represent their home province. The five Barrett’s have never taken the field together for a province, but could have, like the Clarke’s.
Could Kane have gone on to be an All Black if he was not forced to retire? Could 4 brothers have taken the field for the All Blacks at the same time? We will never know.
The achievement of having three brothers playing for the All Blacks at the same time is incredible. However, it was not a oncer. They are all first liners and have appeared together many times, and may they continue to do so.
The achievements of the brothers (world player of the year, world cup winners, promising and capable cricketer, record points scorers, All Black centurion) are well documented and will continue to grow. That’s what makes the Barrett’s my number 1 in the rating of the top 5 NZ rugby family representations.
