Young rugby fans get to share the Barrett experience
A bunch of South Taranaki children got an early Christmas present when they were visited by Taranaki rugby royalty last week.
Beauden, Kane and Scott Barrett all agreed to go under the hammer as part of a fundraising auction in Taranaki for Cure Kids in September, meaning they all had to spend a morning working for a farming business.
The brothers were all auctioned off individually, raising $11,000 for Cure Kids. The auction, which included prizes of a signed Black Caps shirt, a trip for two to the Bledisloe Cup in Australia, tickets to watch the tennis in Melbourne and a 10-day farming tour in the United States, raised $48,000 in total.
After the auction, the groups who won decided to join together and run one big event so that more people could share the Barrett experience.
The rugby brothers had feared they would end up pulling ragwort, digging drains and shearing sheep, but instead they got to play rugby, run a few skill sessions and kick a ball around in bare feet with about 40 excited fans.
‘‘When we found out it was kicking balls around and a barbecue we were stoked,’’ Beauden added.
‘‘This is a great cause. It’s easy to do and is really satisfying, it’s definitely not a chore, it’s good fun and we really enjoy it.’’
Scott Barrett said he wasn’t keen on shearing.
‘‘We grew up on a dairy farm and I was told if you don’t know how to do it now then don’t start, and it’s bad for your back.’’
Auroa farmers Jaiden and Hannah Drought had mowed a paddock specially for the event.
It had a few ruts and undulations, unlike the groomed grounds the brothers generally play on nowadays, but it still got the tick of approval.
‘‘I’ve played on worse, it’s good pasture,’’ Beauden said.
‘‘But it’s awesome to see rugby posts in the middle of a paddock.
‘‘We had bamboo latched together for posts at home so some young man’s going to be pretty happy.’’
Max Drought, 6, who plays fullback for the Kaponga under six team, said he had enjoyed the chance to see the brothers, although they weren’t his favourites as he was more of a Damian McKenzie fan.
‘‘I got Beauden to do some kicks for us, and he shared some of his skills,’’ he said.
‘‘He showed us offload.’’
Event organiser Kim Sharpe said the day was a huge success.
‘‘It’s awesome the fact the boys got behind it,’’ she said. how to